Okano Heiemon

Japanese: 岡野平右衛門 - おかのへいえもん

…Nara dolls that show the characteristics of this technique are usually called Ittobori, and Hida's Ichiibori is also called "Hida's Ittobori." It is said that Nara dolls began in the early Edo period when Okano Heiemon (Shoju) started making them based on the carvings of dolls used in the festivals of Kasuga Taisha Shrine. They are small dolls that are often based on themes from Noh and Kyogen, and are finished with coloring, and are characterized by their rough, powerful expressions. …

From [Nara Dolls]

...It is also called "Nara Ittobori" because it uses the one-stroke carving technique. It is said that the dolls were first made by Okano Heiemon (Shoju) of Nishimikadocho, Nara, a Kasuga cypress craftsman, who likened them to the Takasago Okinaou-na and Shojo-yo dolls that were attached to the island stands of the Kasuga Shrine in Nara and the hats of the flute players of Dengaku monks in the early Edo period. They were sold as decorations and netsuke, but later they were inspired by Noh plays, and the variety of dolls increased to include standing dolls and deer, and from the time of the 9th Shoju, they became one of the famous Nara products. ...

*Some of the terminology that refers to "Okano Heiemon" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…普通はこの技法の特徴をよく示す奈良人形を一刀彫と呼び，飛驒の一位彫（いちいぼり）も〈飛驒の一刀彫〉と呼ぶ。奈良人形は江戸時代初期，岡野平右衛門(松寿)が春日大社の祭礼に用いる人形の彫物をもとに始めたといわれる。題材を多く能，狂言にとり，彩色を施して仕上げた小人形で，荒削りの力強い表現に特色がある。…

【奈良人形】より

…一刀彫技法を用いているので，〈奈良の一刀彫〉ともいう。江戸時代初期に奈良春日神社の祭具の島台や田楽（でんがく）法師の笛役の笠などに付けた高砂の翁姥（おきなおうな）や猩々（しようじよう）などの人形になぞらえて，奈良西御門町の春日檜物職（ひものしよく）岡野平右衛門(松寿)が，家業のかたわらこの人形製作をしたのが始まりという。飾物，根付用として売り出されたが，後には能楽から取題し，さらに立雛，鹿など種類も増え，9代目松寿のころからは奈良名物の一つに数えられるようになった。…

※「岡野平右衛門」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について | 情報

<<: Okanoue Keino - Up the mountain, up the hill

>>: Okano Town