- What is Hishimochi?
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In ancient China, there was a custom of eating rice cakes filled with motherwort (gogyo) on the Jōshi festival (an event to ward off evil spirits on the first snake day in March), and this custom was brought to Japan.
However, using mother and child grass was disliked as it was thought to be bad luck to pound a mother and child into mochi, so mugwort came to be used.
Mugwort has a wonderful fragrance, and it has long been believed that strong scents have the power to ward off evil spirits.
The fact that many regions eat mugwort mochi (kusamochi) on Hinamatsuri is probably a vestige of this tradition. In some regions, the custom of making kusamochi using mother and child grass remains.
Hishimochi are decorated with prayers for girls' healthy growth, protection from evil spirits, prosperity of descendants, and longevity.
The diamond shape was adopted in the early Edo period.
At the time, it was only available in two colors: green and white, combining the green of mugwort mochi with white mochi filled with diamond seeds.
It seems that this was arranged in three or five layers of green, white and green.
Hishimochi is made from diamond seed powder and is said to bring prosperity to descendants and longevity.
There are various theories about the diamond shape, including that it was created to resemble a diamond seed, that it represents the shape of a heart, or that the extended square shape is a prayer for longevity.
In the Meiji period, a red color made from gardenia berries was added, making a total of three colors.
Red has long been an indispensable color for warding off evil spirits, and is also associated with the auspicious color of peach blossoms.
The actual color is "peach", and it is also sometimes described as "pink" or "red".
There are various theories about the meaning of the three colors of Hishimochi, but they can be summarized as follows:
・Red: Contains gardenia fruit / warding off evil / detoxifying effect / peach blossom motif
・White: Contains diamond seeds/prosperity of descendants, longevity, lowering blood pressure, purity, pure white snow
・Green: Contains mugwort/ward off evil/increases blood flow/represents health and fresh greenery
Also, depending on the order in which these three colors are layered, the following spring scenes are expressed.
From the bottom up, the colors are green, white, and red: "Under the snow, new buds (mugwort) are sprouting and peach blossoms are blooming."
・From the bottom, in the order of white, green, and red, "New buds (mugwort) sprout from the snow and peach blossoms bloom."
[First generation Shoami]
He became a disciple of Shibata Nyoami in Gojo, and at the age of 28, he became independent in Imakumano and received the title Shoami from his master.
[Second Generation Takano Shoami]
1930 (Showa 5) First generation Shoami founded
Born in Kyoto in 1941 (Showa 16)
Graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts in 1966
Learned the trade under his teacher, the first Shoami
1980 (Showa 55) Held a 50th anniversary exhibition together with the first generation.
1993 (Heisei 5) Became the second generation
Currently in production at Obaku Tosho Shoami Studio in Higashiyama, Japan.
Mainly produces porcelain matcha and sencha tea utensils with blue and white porcelain, auspicious porcelain, colored porcelain, and kouchin porcelain.
Obaku Potter "The studio is in Higashiyama, Kyoto"
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| size | Approx. width 9.5 x depth 6 x height 3.7 cm |
| author | Written by Shoami Takano |
| box | Wooden box |
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Imaya Imaya Imaya Tea Ceremony Japanese Tea / Tea Ceremony Utensils Imaya Seikoen / Imaya Seikoen Limited Partnership / Imaya Seikoen / imaya
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Product code: kougou-271
[Tea utensils/tea ceremony tools, incense holder, Hinamatsuri] Hishimochi (rice cake) by Shoami Takano
Doll's Festival, Girls' Festival, Girls' Festival
Incense holder for hearth
Related Categories:
Festival Tea Ceremony Utensils > Summer Tea Ceremony Utensils
Tea ceremony utensils
Tea Ceremony Utensils > Incense and Incense Holders (for use with robes and braziers)
Sale price: ¥6,848
