Kamo Diety Dolls
Meiji, Taisho, or early Showa Period
8.5-12.5 cm high x 3.5-6 cm wide
Stand: 4.5 cm high x 26 cm wide x 22 cm deep
Cat. 246421-246430
Gift of Carolyn Moore
© The Field Museum

This set of nine Kamo dolls depicts dieties of Onmyodo, or "the way of yin and yang". Onmyodo, a Japanese form of daoism, was first practiced in Japan in the sixth century A.D., according to the Nihon Shoki, one of the two early Japanese histories written in the early 8th century. Several separate schools concerning the ways of onmyo, or yin and yang, were practiced in Japan from the Asuka period (542-645) until the Heian period (794-1192), when the several different theories were combined into what was known as onmyodo.

One important aspect of onmyodo relates to the divination of the future through careful consultation of several calendars and tables, including the twelve signs of the zodiac calendar (the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig) and the five elements (earth, water, metal, trees, and fire). In addition, there are the Hasshojin, or Eight General Gods, who take different positions depending on the zodiac year and who determine human fortune depending on their position. These eight gods, despicted by the eight standing dolls in this set, are Daishogun, Oban, Saiha, Saikiyo, Hiyobi, Taisai, Saisetsu, and Daion (listed in order from left to right in the picture above). Each of the eight presides over an area of human life, and the position of the relevant god in a certain year can determine whether luck is good for an action.

The ninth figure above has not yet been satisfactorily identified. It is possible he represents Gozu Tenno, the god of plagues and sickness and the father of the Hasshojin. However, Gozu Tenno is usually said to have the head of a bull, so this may be unlikely.

The dolls are done in kimekomi style but with natural, uncovered faces and hands, characteristic of the early kamo dolls. Early kamo dolls were usually lighthearted dolls, however, and would not likely depict dieties of any religion, so these are probably from the Meiji period or later, when the kimekomi technique was used for monk figures and other more serious topics. Kimekomi dolls were made by carving wood into the shape of the finished doll, complete with folding and draping of clothing, then covered with pieces of fabric, giving the illusion of clothing. By the Meiji era, it was common to mold the shape rather than carve it by hand, and also to cover the faces and hands with gofun, a seashell paste used for several types of dolls.


(Commentary by Helena Stenberg)

Back