Otoshidama and other envelopes

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Otoshidama envelopes for the New Year
and other paper bags ...

Here is the question I got:
I am planning a lesson about the Japanese New Year, and I want to give my students a red envelope. I have found some for sale online here:
http://www.japanesegifts.com/party_favor.asp
But, these envelopes are Chinese. Would the ones given by a Japanese person look similar? Would it be okay to use them? They look much fancier than the plain red ones I was planning to make!
Karen


© PHOTO : arai-ar.air-nifty.com


Now I would like to tell you about the special envelopes used in Japan for various purposes. We will look at the Chinese ones further down.


First look at some envelopes with Daruma san.



You see Daruma and the auspicious trio of the pine, bamboo and the plum (shoochikubai 松竹梅). The characters wish you a happy new year.



This little envelope also has many symbols for good luck at the beginning of a year. The characters in the middle read: otoshidama, Money for the New Year.

Look at more envelopes here from picture 09 to 16.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabigreve2000/sets/72157600520222501/detail/>


Otoshidama お年玉
is a Japanese traditional custom. It originated from a shrine ritual in which kagami mochi (round rice cakes) are offered to the god of the year (toshi kamisama). After the ritual was over the cakes were given to the people worshipping at the shrine. Some cakes, which are quite large, were then taken home by the master of the house and distributed to his family and household servants.

Kagamimochi were modeled on the shape of the Shinto mirror, a round disk of metal that can be seen on or near the shrine altar. This mirror, it is believed, can reflect our spirit. The reading of the Chinese character ''魂 (spirit)'' and ''玉 (round or ball)'' is same: tama. People connected kagamimochi with the idea of tama. So ''god of the year rice cakes'' became reduced to toshidama. The honorific 御 (o) is added to show respect. Over the centuries otoshidama became the name for gifts offered during the New Year period, though they were originally called onenshi or onenga (New Year's Greeting).

Today, otoshidama means something else. Traditionally children are given small envelopes by relatives and friends at the start of the New Year in which appropriate amounts of cash are places. As the child gets older the amount grows.

There is also an explanation of Otoso, the spiced ricewine drunk on the New Year.
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/sankan/kankoshinko/ta_news/04.1-2/jan_01.html

Here is a picture with some samples:


http://www.tjf.or.jp/deai/contents/teacher/mini_en/html/otoshidama_j.html






With a Daruma Neko Cat だるま猫


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Chinese Patterns for our envelope, a great collection !



Look at a lot more of them here:
http://www.geocities.jp/matatabitravelnews/card.htm


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Chinese Red Envelopes


Traditionally, the chinese red envelope holds lucky coins often called I ching coins or small precious gifts for gift giving. The red envelope is given to bring good luck, prosperity and happiness to the recipient. Red is the symbol of happiness and ultimate joy, thus the color red is used for all celebrations including weddings and Chinese new year.
These beautiful chinese red envelope measures 4" by 2 3/4" and graced with assorted metallic gold embossed designs symbolizing happiness, longevity and good fortune. Perfect for holding our chinese lucky coins, chinese charms and even double their use as place cards!
http://www.japanesegifts.com/party_favor.asp

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Shugibukuro, Shuugibukuro, 祝儀袋

envelopes for money gifts at weddings and other occasions




This is a link to a side where they show you how to make a special gift envelope for a wedding yourself. The technique is called mizuhiki, using small pieces of reinforced strings.
http://www.mizuhikiya.com/howto/school-kinpuazisai.html


. Mizuhiki 水引 ceremonial paper strings .


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To give a small gift of money to a geisha, artist or actor in the Kansai region, there is the

pochibukuro, pochi bukuro ポチ袋（ぽちぶくろ)
"little envelope"
This derives from "kore pochi", just a little bit.

Take a look at many more
source : wakei-seijyaku


















. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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And envelopes according to the amount of money you put in.
This is the most common one:
http://allabout.co.jp/family/ceremony/closeup/CU20021021A/kekof03.gif

There are many more.
http://allabout.co.jp/family/ceremony/closeup/CU20021021A/index2.htm



Noshibukuro 熨斗袋　
is another common name for special envelopes.
http://www.kit.hi-ho.ne.jp/sinofuji/homepage35_015.htm


For special birthdays
還暦の祝い・・・数え61歳 for your 61st kanreki birthday
古稀の祝い・・・数え70歳
喜寿の祝い・・・数え77歳
傘寿の祝い・・・数え80歳
米寿の祝い・・・数え88歳 for your 88st birthday
卒寿の祝い・・・数え90歳
白寿の祝い・・・数え99歳
着寿の祝い・・・数え100歳以上 for any birthday over 100


For the New Year, a thin strip of dried abalone wrapped in folded red and white paper. Because the meat of the abalone tends to strech long, it is a symbol of the long and good human relations. Now even imitations of a noshi made from Japanese paper can be used. The below is a set, where you can cut out one at at time and add it to a paper envelope or a dish of New Year food.



NEW YEAR FOOD


Black and white noshi envelopes for a burial
http://www.maruai.co.jp/noshi_01/butu-5.html
http://www.maruai.co.jp/noshi_01/butu-6.html

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Karen:
Are the red envelopes not used any more? I didn't see any amongst your wonderful examples. If I get the Chinese envelopes, what should I tell my students? I'm trying to be very careful to truly teach Japanese culture and not be sloppy! Would anyone in Japan actually use envelopes that look like the Chinese ones I found, or would I just say that the Japanese use many different kinds and so these are okay to give out?

Gabi:
The Japanese do not use the pure red ones. If you want to use them, tell the children they are from China. Red is an auspicious color, in China and Japan. That is one reason why Daruma san is usually red.

Here is a scholarly article about the color red, smallpox and Daruma. http://darumasan.blogspot.com/2009/07/red-and-smallpox-essay.html

Read more about Lucky Items (engimono) for the New Year in this story:
http://www.amie.or.jp/daruma/Engimono.html

Gabi Greve, December 2004

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Envelops with Daruma, Fuutoo 封筒, 達磨封筒



© PHOTO : expotower.cocolog-nifty.com




© PHOTO : genkashop.com


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Thank You Card !


© PHOTO :　www.hopstep.tv

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Paper bag for 10 kg of rice
Koshihikari
お米の紙袋


© PHOTO : www.stumpwaterrock.com



Kamibukuro Paperbag for shopping



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Have a nice New Year !

Kotoshi mo minna genki de iraremasu yoo ni !



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年玉を犬にも投げる御寺哉
toshidama o inu ni mo nageru o-tera kana

New Year's money
is tossed even at the dog
at this temple . . .

Kobayashi Issa


. NEW YEAR
KIGO for HUMANITY


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