てまり
栃木県 野州てまり
野州てまりのつくられる、栃木県宇都宮は江戸幕府を築いた徳川将軍、徳川家康公を祀った日光東照宮にほど近く、また結城紬や真岡木綿などの産地であったことから日光街道の重要な宿場町として大変賑わっていたといわれています。
当時は下野国野州と呼ばれ、徳川将軍に昔から仕えた重臣の譜代大名が治めた宇都宮城がありました。日光東照宮参拝の宿場地とされ、城下では大規模な御成御殿が設けられ大変賑わい、城では格式高い武家や良家の子女が仕えたとされる御殿女中などによって、今に
伝わる御殿手毬が作られていたとされています。
日本の手毬は古くは、蹴鞠として平安宮廷文化、公家の間で広がり、その後、蹴る鞠が
手の鞠へとかわり、江戸の時代には女児の正月遊びの手毬として、武家の子女の玩具、
お輿入れの際の幸せを願う縁起物、魔除け、装飾品として作られました。
野州下野国と呼ばれていたことに由来する、この野州手毬は、
温泉で有名な鬼怒川など美しい川や、山、豊かに拓けた田畑によって育まれた風土から
生み出された、手工芸の手毬づくりを今に伝えるものです。 その美しさと、子供の玩具の一つでもある御殿手毬を伝承すべく、地元宇都宮で活動しておられた創始者の先生が、
野州手毬と名称し、木の実や繭の芯を毛羽綿やゼンマイ綿で包み、土地の草花をモチーフに草木染の絹糸、木綿糸で刺しかがった、弾力性のある御殿手毬をつくられました。
こちらの、美しく見事な手毬は、河原子、姫小松、さつきのモチーフで
五月生まれの娘のため、もうずいぶん昔に野州手毬の名づけ親である先生に
作っていただいた三点です。
あんなに小さかった娘が立派はレディになれたのは、この手毬達のお陰でありましょう。
Yashū Temari – Tochigi Prefecture
TemariJapanese embroidered ball
Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, where Yashū temari are made, is located near Nikkō Tōshō-gū, the shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo shogunate. The area was also known as a production center for Yūki-tsumugi silk and Mōka cotton, and flourished as an important post town along the Nikkō Kaidō highway.
In those days, the region was called Yashū in Shimotsuke Province and was governed from Utsunomiya Castle by hereditary daimyō who had long served the Tokugawa shoguns. As a lodging town for pilgrims visiting Nikkō Tōshō-gū, the castle town thrived, with large ceremonial palaces (Onari-goten) built to welcome the shogun.
Within the castle, it is said that palace attendants—women in service to high-ranking samurai families and distinguished households—created the elegant Goten temari that have been passed down to the present day.
Japanese temari balls trace their origins to kemari, a courtly ball game of the Heian period that spread among the aristocracy. Over time, the kicked ball evolved into a hand-held ball, and during the Edo period temari became a traditional New Year’s toy for young girls. They were cherished as playthings for the daughters of samurai families, auspicious gifts wishing happiness in marriage, talismans against misfortune, and decorative objects.
Named after the region once known as Yashū in Shimotsuke Province, Yashū temari are a living tradition of handcrafted temari born from the local climate and landscape—beautiful rivers such as the Kinugawa, surrounding mountains, and fertile, well-cultivated fields. In order to preserve the beauty of Goten temari, which were also children’s toys, the founding master who was active in Utsunomiya gave them the name “Yashū temari.” Using nuts or silkworm cocoon cores wrapped in soft cotton or fern fiber, and embroidered with plant-dyed silk and cotton threads inspired by local flora, the master created resilient and elegant Goten temari.
These three exquisitely beautiful temari, featuring motifs of Kawarago, Hime-komatsu pine, and satsuki azalea, were made long ago by the master who named Yashū temari, for a daughter born in May. That the my little girl of those days has grown into a fine lady may well be thanks to these temari.