Hinamatsuri traces its origins to an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi (雛流し, lit. “doll floating”), in which straw hina dolls are set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking troubles or bad spirits with them.
First platform
An Emperor doll, with two handmaidens.
The top tier holds two dolls, known as Imperial dolls (内裏雛 (だいりびな) da-i-ri-bi-na?) representing the Emperor (御内裏様 O-dairi-sama?) and Empress (御雛様 O-hina-sama?) (dairi means “Imperial Palace“, and hina means “girl” or “princess”).
The dolls are usually placed in front of a gold folding screen byōbu (屏風 ?).
Optional are the two lampstands are called bonbori (雪洞 ?), and the paper or silk lanterns are known as hibukuro (火袋 ?), usually decorated with cherry or plum blossom patterns.
Complete sets would include accessories placed between the two figures, known as sanbou kazari (三方飾り ?), composing of two vases kuchibana (口花 ?).
The traditional arrangement had the male on the right, while modern arrangements had him on the left (from the viewer’s perspective).
Second platform
The second tier holds three court ladies san-nin kanjo (三人官女 ?). Each holds a sake equipment. From the viewer’s perspective, the standing lady on the right is the long-handled sake-bearer Nagae no choushi (長柄の銚子 ?), the standing lady on the left is the backup sake-bearer Kuwae no choushi (加えの銚子 ?), and the only lady in the middle is the seated sake bearer Sanpou (三方 ?).
Accessories placed between the ladies are takatsuki (高坏 ?), stands with round table-tops for seasonal sweets, excluding hishimochi.
Third platform
The third tier holds five male musicians go-nin bayashi (五人囃子 ?). Each holds a musical instrument except the singer, who holds a fan.
Left to right, from viewer’s perspective, they are the:
- Small drum Taiko (太鼓 ?), seated,
- Large drum Ookawa (大鼓 ?), standing,
- Hand drum Kotsuzumi (小鼓 ?), standing,
- Flute Fue (笛 ?), or Yokofue (横笛 ?), seated,
- Singer Utaika (謡い方 ?), holding a folding fan sensu (扇子 ?), seated.
Fourth platform
Two ministers (daijin) may be displayed on the fourth tier: the Minister of the Right (右大臣 Udaijin?) and the Minister of the Left (左大臣 Sadaijin?). The Minister of the Right is depicted as a young person, while the Minister of the Left is much older. Also, because the dolls are placed in positions relative to each other, the Minister of the Right will be on the viewer’s left and the Minister of the Left will be on the viewer’s right. Both are sometimes equipped with bows and arrows.
Between the two figures are covered bowl tables kakebanzen (掛盤膳 ?), also referred to as o-zen (お膳 ?), as well as diamond-shaped stands hishidai (菱台 ?) bearing diamond-shaped ricecakes hishimochi (菱餅 ?). Hishidai with feline-shaped legs are known as nekoashigata hishidai (猫足形菱台 ?).
Just below the ministers: on the rightmost, a mandarin orange tree Ukon no tachibana (右近の橘 ?), and on the leftmost, a cherry tree Sakon no sakura (左近の桜 ?).
Fifth platform
The fifth tier, between the plants, holds three helpers or samurai as the protectors of the emperor and empress. From left to right (viewer’s perspective):
- Maudlin drinker nakijougo (泣き上戸 ?),
- Cantankerous drinker okorijougo (怒り上戸 ?), and
- Merry drinker waraijougo (笑い上戸 ?)
On the sixth and seventh tiers, a variety of miniature furniture, tools, carriages, etc. are displayed.
Platform Six
These are items used within the palatial residence.
- tansu (箪笥 ?) : chest of (usually 5) drawers, sometimes with swinging outer covering doors.
- nagamochi (長持 ?) : long chest for kimono storage.
- hasamibako (挟箱 ?) : smaller clothing storage box, placed on top of nagamochi.
- kyoudai (鏡台 ?) : lit., mirror stand, a smaller chest of drawer with a mirror on top.
- haribako (針箱 ?) : sewing kit box.
- 2 hibachi (火鉢 ?) : braziers.
- daisu (台子 ?) : a set of ocha dougu (お茶道具 ?) or cha no yu dougu (茶の湯道具 ?), utensils for the tea ceremony.
Platform Seven
These are items used when away from the palatial residence.
- juubako (重箱 ?), a set of nested lacquered food boxes with either a cord tied vertically around the boxes or a stiff handle that locks them together.
- gokago (御駕籠 or 御駕篭 ?), a palanquin.
- goshoguruma (御所車 ?), an ox-drawn carriage favored by Heian nobility. This last is sometimes known as gisha or gyuusha (牛車 ?)).
- Less common, hanaguruma (花車 ?), an ox drawing a cart of flowers.