The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-09-01
,ory or wood or a rare bronze, a

ivory or wood or a rare bronze, a
lovely vase or other piece of pottery,
or some other article of beauty viii
be placed. Upon the wall at the rear
of the tokonoma there is usually a
kakemOno or scroll with painting or
inscription upon it. Not the least
interesting thing about Matsuyas dis
play was the togOnoma of the we'd
ding house or rather of the home of
the young people. The platform and
the stand and other supports used in
it were all of clean white wood, beau
tifully smooth and pure. The central
object in such a tOkonoma consists of
tificial pine tree under which are rep
resented an old man and woman with
white hair; cranes may be perched
among the branches or standing on
the ground below; and usually a tor
toise, the kind with the broad and
hairy tail-"the ten thousand year tor
toise;" to the right and left of the
shimadai are stands which bear
symbolic gifts of foods. while before
it on a little stand of its own is a
symbolic shallow bowl of sake; in the
remaining space are usually arranged
little stands or tables upon which are
gifts of food or other presents, all of
which usually have symbolic meaning
We had already noticed shop
where such presents were manu-
featured. We had recognized that
they were present. but not that they
had special reference to weddings.
Having seen Matsuya's great display,
we fastened to visit two or three of
the places where shimadai and other
forms of wedding gifts are made. in
the good old times, before the Occi-
dental influence was strong. every such
shop was marked by a pair of tai fish
in wood. painted red, hung above the
door. Such signboards, alas, are now
a rarity. Where else does the con-
slant symbolism of the Japanese make
so strong an impression upon the
visitor as at such shops?
Always present in the stock will be
two immense representations of tai
fish made in bright red stuff or soft
crepe-like texture. These fish usually
rest with heads and mouths quite
close together upon a stand of clean
white wood. with artificial leaves OF
green bamboo tucked under them.
Such a pair of tai fishe are an emblem
of conjugal fidelity and love. The
pine tree alone or with various OBJ
jects associated with it is always to
be seen. The pine is evergreen,
hence a natural symbol for long life
and eternal happiness. The white hair
of the old man and woman so fire.
quently shaded under it's branches in
dictate the years of life which the
giver wishes to be the lot of the
young couple. The turtle with its
long broad tail of streaming hair
seaweed-is reputed to live ten thou
sand years, and conveys the wish that
similar length of life may come An
other symbol of longevity always to
be seen in such places is really nat
uralistic representations of Holsters,
or lobster-like crustaceans, which are
generally made in red or purple stuff
Very common is a massing together
of great stalk of red coral, sack bull
ging with precious contents, and 9TH
er emblems symbolic of wealth--the
well-known Jewel among them; such
of course delicately convey the wish
that the recipient may have hills of
treasure, mountains of wealth Some
times a great figure of an elephant
made in delicate pearl-gray stuff is
used as the bearer of the various
symbolic presents instead of simple
stand of wood. In all these symbolic
forms, whether tai fish or coral
branch or treasure countan or lob
ster. the cloth or material which is
used is uncut and .unsewed; in other
words, unbroken pieces of cloth are
used in their construction; the OBJ
ject being that after the wedding has
passed and the celebration ended the
material may be carefully opened out
and utilized.
But when we talk of symbols we are
only to call attention to one other
symbolic present to be seen in the
makers shop. 1t Is a form of rebus
only. instead of the pictures of the
rebus representing sounds. they call
up an association of ideas; and. in
stead of being drawn or painted, they
are stamped-out objects, which are
arranged upon a long and narrow
board. These boards, about three feet
i'm length and four inches wide, are
perforated at the upper end for hang
ing by a peg or nail against the wall;
upon them are a half dozen of the
symbolic objects. OF course, to a for
eigner who knows nothing of the Ian.
guage and little of the poems. songs.
traditions and theatrical representa-
tons of the people, the meaning OF
these compositions is lost. To a Jap
anese, however, of intelligence ant
education, this plain and simple board
with it's pretty attached objects calls
up precious memory from some an
cient drama or poem. 1t is among
the prettiest forms of wedding pres
ents.
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