Topknot - Whirlpool

In ancient times, this was a type of decoration attached to the crown during ceremonies. The roots of the hair tied on top of the head were called motodori, and the crown was worn, with a piece of silk of the same quality as the crown tied at the position of the motodori, and a flower-shaped decoration called motoka was inserted into it. The Nihon Shoki, in the section for the 19th year of the reign of Emperor Suiko (611), states, "All kinds of motoka were worn. In general, gold was used for the Great Virtue and the Small Virtue, leopard tails for the Great Benevolence and the Small Benevolence, and bird tails for the Great Ceremony and below." The section for the 3rd year of the reign of Emperor Koutoku (647) also states that gold, silver, and copper were used for the motoka (topknot) attached to the stirrup crown. Furthermore, the kazashi flowers used from the Heian period onwards are thought to have originated from this topknot flower.

[Takada Yamato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代、儀式のとき、冠(かんむり)につけた飾りの一種。髪を頭上に結って束ねた根元を髻(もとどり)というが、冠をかぶり、髻の位置で冠と同質の絹で結び、そこに髻華と称する花形の飾りを挿した。『日本書紀』推古(すいこ)天皇19年（611）の項に、「各髻華を著せり。則(すなわ)ち大徳、小徳は並びに金(こがね)を用い、大仁(だいにん)、小仁は豹(ひょう)の尾を用い、大礼(だいらい)より以下は鳥の尾を用う」とある。また孝徳(こうとく)天皇3年（647）の項には、鐙冠(つぼこうぶり)につける髻華（鈿(うず)）には、金、銀、銅を用いたとある。なお、平安時代以降に用いられた挿頭華(かざし)は、この髻華からきたものと思われる。

［高田倭男］

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