Discussion

Shichi-go-san

What is it?

The literal meaning of shichi-go-san, the theme of this week's painting subject, is seven (shichi), five (go), three (san), or 7-5-3. When these numbers are used together like this, it refers to the Festival for Children, an annual event held every November 15 during which prayers are offered for healthy and happy futures of children. Shichi-go-san is not an official national holiday, and its modern celebration often occurs on the closest weekend day to Nov. 15. The sum of those three numbers is 15, considered to be a lucky number in Japan.

The roots of the celebration are thought to have begun among aristocrats in the Heian period (794 - 1185), but scholars also think that its origin may have been during the Muromachi period (1336 - 1392) when the infant mortality rate was so high that births were not entered into family registers until children reached the age of three. By the Edo period (1603 - 1868), the celebration was well established in all of Japan's social classes.

How Old?

Shichi-go-san refers to specific ages of children; 7-years-old, 5-years-old, and 3-years-old. In the west, age 7 means that at least seven years have elapsed since a child's birth. Since legislation was passed in 1902, it has meant that in Japan, too. The prior traditional system of age in Japan (and Korea, etc,) was that an infant was considered to be 1-year-old on the day it was born. Thereafter, a year was added to the child's age every January 1.

Kamioki is also a time for fancy dress.

It is worth noting from this 3-year-old girl's photo that shaving baby's heads isn't practiced much in Japan these days.

Hakamagi no Gi: This is the 5-year celebration and is primarily for boys. It is when boys first wear a hakama (loose pleated trousers) ...

... and haori (coat), both formal clothing associated with the acceptance of responsibility.

Obitoki no Gi: This 7-years celebration is primarily for girls. Up until age seven, girls usually wear kimonos that are secured by ties attached to the garment. At Obitoki no Gi, Girls graduate to wearing an obi.  Obis (sashes) are much more difficult to tie and are more ornamental. They are another step toward adulthood.

Turtles and Cranes

Kamioki, Hakamagi no Gi, and Obitoki no Gi are generally family celebrations, but they are often also occasions for trips to a shrine to pray for good fortune and long lives. Afterward, children are given chitose ame, a special kind of candy. The literal meaning of chitose ame is thousand-year candy.

Chitose ame is a seasonal candy, available throughout the end-of-year celebrations, but their special purpose is associated with shichi-go-san. It is usually given to children in special gift bags with decorations of turtles and/or cranes, both symbols of longevity. This bag has both.

The turtles associated with chitose ame have long tails. That is what the yellow stuff behind the turtles on the bag is supposed to be.

While the theme of this week's painting subject is shichi-go-san, the actual painting subject is turtles and cranes.

Modern Practice

Today's shichi-go-san celebrations are generally less formal than in the past. It is more of a photo op occasion along with a family trip to a local shrine. Families and children celebrating together. Informal or not, the celebration still marks milestones for children on their way to becoming adults.

Artwork

Utagawa Kunisada II  (1823–1880)

Kunisada II was a pupil of the original, highly successful Utagawa Kunisada. He took the name after he married his master's daughter. Though his artwork was in the same style of Kunisanda I, he never achieved nearly the same level of popularity. The ukiyo-e below is a triptych depicting a scene from Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji) at a shichi-go-san celebration. It was published in 1867.