Pop Japan

Hina dolls are part of Japan's annual festival called Hinamatsuri or Doll's Day celebrated on March 3. It is a tradition that began in the Edo period. These dolls are made of straw and they are traditionally set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to take the bad spirits away with them. 

The intricately-crafted dolls represent the members of the imperial family. The central figures are the male odairasama and femala ohinasama. There are three court ladies called the sannin kanjo, and gonin bayashi or the five musicians who attend to the imperial family. The collection of dolls with their elaborate costume are called hinakazari. The hina dolls are Japan's cultural treasures often passed down from one generation's daughter to the next. 

Photo by tab2_dawa. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en)

Tags: Hina dolls, Hinamatsuri, Doll's Day, Edo period, tradition, crafted dolls, imperial family, odairasama, ohinasama, sannin kanjo, gonin bayashi, hinakazari