Behind the lovely sunshine doll of Japanese people is a pretty scary story

The dolls are made of white paper towels or a square piece of white cloth with a quite gentle and cute shape but few people know that its origin story is quite horrifying .

If you are a person who loves Japanese culture, you must be familiar with the images of teru teru bozu sunshine dolls that are hung in front of the porch, windowsill to pray for a sunny day, good weather .

The dolls are made of white paper towels or a square piece of white cloth with a quite gentle and cute shape but few people know that its origin story is quite horrifying.

The teru terzu sunshine teru bozu doll.

Traditionally, if the wish becomes reality, the sunshine doll will be rewarded by drawing eyes, drinking sake and dropping it into the river to wash away the water. Many generations of Japanese children are all familiar with the song teru teru bozu . The song is often taken during the making of the doll as a plea for the 'miracle' from the doll to be more effective. However, if you listen carefully, many people will feel quite surprised when in a verse that contains the message as . threatening.

The song is often taken during the making of the doll as a plea for the 'miracle' from the doll to be more effective.

Teru teru bozu, teru bozu.

Let's make tomorrow sunny.

Like the sky in dreams.

If it is sunny, we will give you a golden bell.

Teru teru bozu, teru bozu.

Let's make tomorrow sunny.

If our wish comes true.

I will give you sake.

Teru teru bozu, teru bozu.

Let's make tomorrow sunny.

But if it is murky and rainy.

I will cut off your head.

The origin of the sun-shining teru teru bozu doll is actually quite vague. However, the story is most famous and also explains why the lyrics are so horrifying because it originates from the legend of a monk who helps the villagers pray for sunshine.

In Japanese, bozu also means monks and the fact that the image of teru teru bozu is a bald-headed doll is even more affirmative about the origin of this story.

The story of this doll stems from the legend of a monk helping the villagers pray for sunshine.

Legend has it that the other monk promised a feudal lord to help set up the sun bridge to help the crops be good, but did not expect the sun to show its appearance, the rain still rotten in the dirt.

Exasperated by this, the lord sent him to behead the monk's head to punish. This head is then wrapped in a cloth and hung in front of the village to pray for the rain not to fall and the sunny day will come.

Another less intimidating legend tells that the teru teru bozu represents the yōkai who lives in a deep mountain called Hiyoribo. This yokai often brings beautiful, sunny weather to all places and in rainy days no one will see Hiyoribo anywhere.

According to the Japan Weather Association, the tradition of using sunbeam dolls popular in Japan originated in China during the Heian period (794-1185).

This is the Confucian period and Chinese cultural elements strongly influenced Japan. And
in this version is not related to any monk but the main character is a broom girl.

The concept of paper dolls is gradually transformed, eventually becoming teru teru bozu.

The story recounted when the rain poured down a village, from the sky suddenly came down to a voice saying that the whole village would be submerged in the sea if they did not bring a beautiful young girl to offer. sacrifice. So a girl in the village was chosen to save the people from the mistaken scene.

To commemorate a brave girl, people often cut paper into a girl holding a broom.

The young girl flew back to the sky with a broom in her hand so she could sweep away the dark clouds, making the sky clear. Later in memory of the brave girl, people often cut the paper into a shape of a broom girl. These pictures are hung outside the door to pray for sunny weather.

Known as 掃 晴 娘 (So-Chin-Nyan) or Souseijou in Japanese, it is understood that "girl sweeping the blue sky" , the concept of paper dolls is gradually transformed, eventually becoming a teru Teru Bozu that we see today.