Sarubobo

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A sarubobo ( ???? ) is a Japanese amulet, especially associated with the city of Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. Sarubobos are red-shaped human puppets, without facial features, made in various sizes. Traditionally, sarubobos are made by grandmothers for their grandchildren as puppets, and for their daughters as a charm for good marriage, good children and to ensure a complete partner.

Video Sarubobo

Etymology

Sarubobo is literally translated from Japanese as "baby monkey". "Saru" is a Japanese word for monkeys, and "bobo" is the word for baby in the Takayama dialect.

There are several reasons why the talisman has this name. Sarubobo is associated with three wishes:

• Protection from bad things.

In Japanese, the English word "leave" is translated as "b blah saru ", so the ownership of sarubobo means that bad things will be "saru"

• Happy house, nice couple

In Japan, the happy home is "can en man", a good match is "ryo- en " (Another way to say "saru" is "en".)

• Easy to deliver at birth.

It's easy to give birth to a monkey.

The face of sarubobo is traditionally red, like a baby monkey's face.

Maps Sarubobo

Facelessness

Sarubobo dolls and amulets do not usually have facial features. The reasons for this are unclear, but some have been suggested. One suggestion is that, initially, sarubobos were made of leftover fabrics and made by relatives, so there was no need for them to be completely accurate.

Another suggestion is that the absence of a face allows the owner to imagine it - when the owner is sad, they can imagine their sarubobo becoming sad too. The general story told by the Takayama people is that non-existence is the result of a puppet made during the period of World War II. The mothers know that these are difficult and unpleasant moments but, do not want to give a doll's sad face. So they leave them faceless.

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Sarubobo modern

Currently, sarubobo is a popular souvenir in Takayama, and is available in various colors and shapes from souvenir shops. There's even a Hello Kitty doll dressed like a sarubobo.

Sarubobos of different colors each associated with different desires;

• Red sarubobo for luck in marriage, fertility and labor
• Sarubobo blue - for luck in learning and working
• Pink sarubobo - for luck in love
• Green sarubobo - for luck in health
• Yellow sarubobo - for luck in money
• Sarubobo black - to remove misfortune

There is also a different sarubobo called "tobibobo."

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References

Source of the article : Wikipedia