✳︎ Musume Dojoji Kiyohime Clay Bell (Year of the Snake) ✳︎ Manufactured during the Showa period (purchased in 1977) ✳︎ Craftsman: 8th generation, Bunzo Obata ✳︎ Size: Approximately Height 105 x Width 70 x Depth 85mm A Kiyohime clay bell from the year of the snake, made by Obata clay dolls in Gokasho-cho, Kanzaki-gun, Shiga Prefecture. Those who immediately think of Tamasaburo Bando in "Musume Dojoji" when they hear "snake" are fans of Kabuki. ◯ The Legend of "Anchin and Kiyohime" Based on the legend of "Anchin and Kiyohime," where a girl who fell in love with a monk turns into a giant snake, the bell depicts a snake embracing a bell. This "Kane-daki Hebi" (bell-holding snake) is believed to bring prosperity in business and other blessings. Also, Anchin and Kiyohime are the subject of the Kabuki dance drama "Kyokano Musume Dojoji." Although the content is gruesome, in the hands of Mr. Hosoi of Obata clay dolls, it becomes a slightly comical and tasteful work. This temple called "Dojoji" actually exists. It is located in Hidaka-gun, Hidaka-gawa-cho, Wakayama Prefecture, and was founded in the first year of Taiho (701). The Thousand-Armed Kannon designated as a National Treasure boasts the oldest in Japan, and many Buddhist statues and cultural assets, including Nikko Bosatsu and Gekko Bosatsu, are enshrined there. The legend of "Anchin and Kiyohime," which is the origin of "Dojoji" in Noh and Kabuki, tells of the monk Anchin, who escaped into the bell of Dojoji, and Kiyohime, who transformed into a snake out of resentment, burned him to death along with the bell. "Kyokano Musume Dojoji" is a sequel, where the newly donated bell after several hundred years is also cursed by "Shirabyoshi Hanako, actually the spirit of Kiyohime." It is said that the original bell of Dojoji was actually burned down as the legend says. The bell donated several hundred years later was also taken away by Toyotomi's army during the Warring States period, so there is no bell in this temple. The bell that was taken away still remains at Myoman-ji Temple in Kyoto. Please see the following hashtag for other snake year decorations ⤵︎ #YearOfTheSnakeDecorations ◯ ⤵︎ Search terms below #KyokanoMusumeDojoji #TamasaburoBando Musume Dojoji Kabuki Snake Year of the Snake Clay Dolls #ObataDolls #LocalToys #Mingei #ClayBells Musume Dojoji Zodiac Dolls Good Luck Charms Evil Warding Tori-no-ichi (Rooster Market) Folk Crafts Good Fortune Lucky Can Lucky Snake White Snake Bringing Good Fortune Year-End and New Year New Year's Day Zodiac Decorations Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Living with Antique Goods Mingei Traditional Crafts Folk Art folkart folktoy Folk Toy casabrutus