Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-09-02

W
we're toilet cases and old nlirrorS
which had belonged to princely fam.
lilies. There was set of ceremonial
drinking cups for use at the wedding
made of red lacquer with patterns
raised in gold; these cups were broad,
low bowls, almost as fat and shallow
as table plates.
In every Japanese living and recep-
ton room the place of honor is the
tokonoma. 1t is an aIcove, the floor
Of which stands at a little greater
height than that Of the room itself
Upon this slightly elevated platform
the only decorations Of the room are
placed It is here that the floral ar
rangement for the time will be con-
structed. There is usually 8 little
stand of beautifully finished wood
upon which some quaint carving in
ivory or wood or rare bronze, a
lovely vase or other piece of pottery
or some other article of beauty will
be placed. Upon the wall at the rear
of the tokonoma there is usually a
kakemono or scroll with a painting or
inscription upon it. Not the least
| interesting thing about Matsuya's 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
shimadai which is usually little ar
tifcial 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 tor
! toise, the kind with the broad and
hairy tail-"the ten thousand year tor
toise;" to the right and left of the
shlmadai are stands which bear
symbolic gifts of foods, while before
it on little stand of it's 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 a 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 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 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 it's
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 Ans
other symbol Of longevity always to
be seen in such places is really nat
ural1stic representations of Holsters,
or lobster-like crustaceans, which are
generally made IN red or purple stuff.
Very common is q massing together
of a great stalk of red coral, a sack bul!
ging with precious contents, and oth5
er en1blems 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 Some7
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 a simple
stand of wood. In all these symbolic
forms, whether tai fish or coraf
branch or treasure mountain 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
| apt TO to run on forever We wish
! only 10 call attention to one other
! symbolic present to be seen in the
makers shop. It is form Of rebus
only, instead Of the pictures Of the
rebus representing sounds, they call