Teru teru bōzu

Uncommon card · No. 170798

A teru teru bōzu (Japanese: てるてる坊主 or 照る照る坊主; lit. 'shine, shine monk') is a small traditional handmade doll hung outside doors and windows in Japan in hope of sunny weather. Made from tissue paper or cloth, teru teru bōzu charms are usually white, ghost-like figures with strings tied around their necks. The words teru (照る) meaning 'to shine' and bōzu (坊主) referring to a Buddhist monk, the doll is said to represent a monk's bald head, which would shine during sunny weather. The doll therefore calls to a monk's magical powers to stop or prevent rain. Traditionally, if the weather does turn out well, a libation of holy sake is poured over them, and they are washed away in the river. In particular, teru teru bōzu charms are popular among Japanese children, who are introduced to the charms in kindergarten or daycare through a famous warabe uta (nursery rhyme) released in 1921. The song calls teru teru bōzu to bring back the sunny days, promising lots of sake if the wish is fulfilled, but...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Novaric at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0