Special Exhibition: The Beauty of Hina Dolls – Hina Decorations, Safflowers, and 'The Tale of Genji' –"
February 9 – April 8, 2024
(Open every day during the exhibition period)
The custom of displaying Hina dolls for the March 3rd Girls' Day Festival originated in the Edo period, and this tradition continues to this day.
Furthermore, looking back to the Heian period, as described in 'The Tale of Genji' as 'hina asobi' (doll play), the custom of playing with and decorating dolls can be said to be a culture that has continued in Japan since ancient times. Hina dolls, as
times changed, became adorned with more luxurious decorations and realistic expressions, and their designs also evolved.
Among these, the Hina dolls of Yamagata were one of the splendid cultures brought from Kyoto and Edo by wealthy merchants who prospered through the safflower trade, utilizing Japan Sea shipping and Mogami River boat transport.
This exhibition will introduce the history of the Peach Festival (Momo no Sekku), a traditional Japanese culture, along with Hina dolls and Peach Festival decorations passed down through old families in Yamagata.