Baby clothes - Ubugi

Japanese: 産着 - うぶぎ

The first clothes worn by a newborn baby. Also written as san'gi, and formerly called mutsuki. Hemp leaf patterned kimonos have been used since the Edo period, and are still sold commercially as maternity wear, with the hope that babies will grow strong and straight like hemp. Until the mid-Meiji period, it was customary to sew a five-colored silk thread on the back of maternity clothes as a ward off evil spirits. The fabric should be warm, comfortable against the skin, washable, and easy to keep clean. Cotton is best, with absorbent gauze, bleached fabric, knitted fabric, towel, and cotton flannel also suitable. In terms of shape, choose a loose-fitting garment that is easy to put on and take off, does not restrict movement, and is easy to wear. White is the main color, with pale pink, cream, and light blue also good. Kimono-style garments come in single-layer, lined, and padded styles, with wide sleeves and strings at the back to make dressing and diaper changing easy. Recently, improved baby clothes have been devised that have fewer seams or that are on the outside. Nowadays, Western-style baby clothes, which are easier to sew and wash, have become common. They have no collars or decorations, and thin tape is used instead of buttons to fasten the front opening. Raglan-sleeved underwear is worn over French-sleeved undergarments, and baby clothes with raglan sleeves or low sleeves are dressed, although in cold seasons a vest can be worn underneath to adjust. Infants should usually be dressed in one layer less than adults, and it is best to avoid the habit of wearing too many layers of clothing to be overly protective.

[Kazuko Okano]

Folklore

It is generally thought to mean the clothes that are put on after the first bath, but in this case, there is a problem with the word "first bath". Currently, it refers to the bath that is given immediately after birth, but in the traditional way, the first bath is the "bath" on the third day, which is now called "Yuzome" as a ceremonial event after birth, and I think that the appropriate word to use is "Ubugi" for the clothes that are put on after that. When I asked old people who still know the old customs, they said that until about the third day after birth, the baby was wrapped in plain cloth or cotton, called Bobosadzutsumi, Korobakashi, or Maekakezutsumi, and on the third day, the baby was put on in a kimono with sleeves, which was called Ubugi or Obogi. There are many other names in various regions, such as Mitsumegimono, Tenuki, Tetoshi, Sodetsunagi, and Tetsunagi, but in short, most dialects strongly express the fact that it has sleeves and that you can put your hands through. In Sado, Niigata Prefecture, they are called Ninjugimon, and in this region, saying "Ninju ni shite kure" (please become a human) meant asking to be accepted into the group. In other words, Ubugi is the kimono worn when joining the human community, and from the adult's perspective, it is the kimono worn when recognized as a human.

[Hisako Maruyama]

[References] | Hemp leaf pattern | Birth bath | Childbirth | Swax

Size of baby clothes (Kimono style)
©Shogakukan ">

Size of baby clothes (Kimono style)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

生まれたばかりの新生児に初めて着せる衣服。産衣とも書き、古くは襁褓(むつき)ともいった。江戸時代から用いられた麻の葉模様の着物は、乳児が麻のように、じょうぶでまっすぐ成長するようにとの願いが込められているもので、いまも産着用として市販されている。また明治中期までは厄除(やくよ)けとして、産着の背に背守り縫いを五色の絹糸で縫う習わしがあった。生地は保温性があり、肌ざわりがよく、洗濯がきき、清潔さを保ちやすいものがよい。木綿が最良で、吸湿性のあるガーゼ、晒(さらし)、メリヤス、タオル、綿ネルなどが適する。また形のうえでは着脱に便利で、運動を妨げない、ゆったりしたものを選ぶ。色は白を主とし、淡桃色、クリーム、水色などがよい。着物式のものには単(ひとえ)、袷(あわせ)、綿入れ仕立てがあり、広袖(そで)、後ろ紐(ひも)付きにし、着替え、おむつ交換が容易なようにする。最近は縫い目を少なくしたり、外側に出したりした改良産着も考案されている。現代では、仕立て、洗濯の簡便な、洋服式のものが一般化している。襟や飾りのないものにし、前打合せの開きを留めるのにボタンを避け、細いテープを用いる。フレンチ袖の肌着の上にラグラン袖の下着を着せ、ラグラン袖か、低い袖山のベビー服を着せるが、寒い季節には胴着を間に着せて調節する。乳児の衣服は通常、大人より1枚少ないぐらいに着装させ、過保護な厚着の習慣は避けるのが望ましい。

［岡野和子］

民俗

産湯(うぶゆ)のあとで着せる着物をいうのが普通の考え方であるが、この場合産湯ということばに問題がある。現在は生後すぐに浴びさせる湯をさしているが、伝統的な考え方では、誕生後の儀礼的行事として現在湯初(ゆぞ)めといっている3日目の「湯浴みせ」が産湯であり、そのあと着せる着物をウブギというのが適当かと思う。現在でも古い風習を知っている老人に聞くと、生後3日目ぐらいまでは、ボボサヅツミとかコロバカシ、またはマエカケヅツミなどといって、ただの布や綿などに包んでおき、3日目に初めて袖のついた着物を着せて、これをウブギとかオボギとかいったという。このほかミツメギモノ、テヌキ、テトオシ、ソデツナギ、テツナギなど各地に名称は多いが、要するに袖のあること、手を通すということを強く表現した方言が多い。新潟県の佐渡ではニンジュギモンとよぶが、この地方で「人衆(にんじゅ)にしてくれ」というと仲間に入れてくれという意味であった。すなわち、ウブギは人間の仲間に入るときの着物であり、成人の側からいえば、人間として認知したときの着物ということになる。

［丸山久子］

[参照項目] | 麻の葉文 | 産湯 | 出産 | 襁褓

産着の寸法（着物式）

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