As you saunter down the bustling, lantern-lit streets of Japan during the melancholic rainy season, a spectral sight catches your eye—scores of small, white, ghost-like figures suspended from the eaves of quaint homes and rustic farmhouses. Swinging gently in the wind, these enigmatic figures appear ethereal, casting an air of mystique over the dampened surroundings. They are teru teru bozu, an integral part of Japanese folklore and cultural tradition.
These charmingly simplistic talismans, resembling miniature phantoms, are traditionally handcrafted dolls. Crafted meticulously with a piece of white cloth or paper, they are shaped into an amorphous form that mirrors the silhouette of a robed monk. The makers then fasten them with a piece of string, often hanging them from windows or doors. These suspended figures may seem ornamental, but they serve a purpose far deeper than mere aesthetics.
These symbolic effigies represent the hopes of the Japanese people, particularly farmers, for clear skies and fair weather during the temperamental rainy season. It is believed that the benign presence of these teru teru bozu can sway the heavens, ensuring good weather for bountiful harvests. Should the weather turn favorable, it is customary to express gratitude towards the humble doll by bestowing it with a smiley face—acknowledging the wish fulfilled.
From sacrificed monks to mountain spirits
While the origins of the teru teru bozu are shrouded in a mist of uncertainties, various theories attempt to unveil the truth. The most prevalent, albeit gruesome, narrative connects the doll’s origins to a fabled monk from yesteryears. As per the tale, this monk possessed the unique ability to control the weather through his mystical incantations. The services of this ‘Good Weather Monk’ were once summoned by a feudal lord desiring favorable weather and prosperity for his land. However, when the monk’s chants failed to cease the relentless rains, the enraged lord commanded the execution of the monk, severing his head. This severed head was then enshrouded in a pristine white cloth and hung outside in a desperate bid to calm the tempestuous skies.
This macabre tale later found resonance in a warabe uta, a traditional Japanese children’s song released in 1921, which speaks of a ‘Good Weather Monk’ who is beseeched to bring clear skies. The term teru teru bozu itself translates to ‘sunshine monk,’ reinforcing this widespread belief. Thus, though the origins remain murky, the significance of the teru teru bozu in Japanese culture is undoubtedly profound and enduring.
Another interpretation, much less bloodthirsty than the tale of the beheaded monk, proposes that the teru teru bōzu are symbolic representations of a mountain spirit, a yōkai, known as Hiyoribō. The yōkai, a staple in the kaleidoscopic folklore of Japan, refers to an array of spirits or monsters that inhabit the physical world. Hiyoribō, the spirit in question, is renowned for its ability to bring about favorable weather, but interestingly, its elusive figure remains invisible on rain-soaked days.
Lending credibility to these theories, the Japan Weather Association, a revered organization that also oversees the country’s popular weather application, points out that the antecedents of teru teru bozu dolls could be traced back to China, specifically to the Heian Period spanning from 784–1185 AD. This hypothesis, accepted widely by folk historians, is viewed as the most probable explanation for the genesis of these unique dolls.
Amidst the elegance and mysticism of the Heian Period, a quaint tradition emerged which endowed the responsibility of the weather on the tiny shoulders of a young girl armed with a broom. During a time when relentless rain seemed to doom the city, an ethereal voice echoed from the heavens, demanding the presence of a specific young girl, failing which the city would be engulfed by a devastating flood. Summoning her courage, the brave girl appeared, her sacrifice saving her city from the forewarned disaster. With her broom, she swept away the dense clouds from the sky, ushering in a period of calm, fine weather, much to the relief of the city’s inhabitants.
In her honor, and to celebrate her heroic deed, the people crafted her likeness out of paper, hanging these effigies outside their homes on rainy days, praying for fair weather. This practice, evolving gradually over centuries, gave rise to the tradition of teru teru bozu dolls as we know them today.
The evolving significance of teru teru bozu
Regardless of the validity of the legends surrounding them, the teru teru bōzu continues to hold a treasured place in the tapestry of Japanese culture. Adored by both the young and the old, they dangle from windows and doors, their spectral form a testament to a rich cultural heritage, reminding us that faith can imbue the simplest of objects with profound significance—even if it doesn’t necessarily guarantee clear skies.
