Dog

犬 inu

Dog

Dogs give birth easily, so dog motifs are charms for safe childbirth and the protection of children.

Medieval birthing-room charms; Day of the Dog custom

Because dogs give birth easily and to large litters, dog figures were used as charms for safe childbirth, from Muromachi-period inubako in noble birthing rooms to the Edo papier-mâché inu-hariko. The same belief lies behind visiting a shrine on a Day of the Dog (inu no hi), which comes every 12 days, in the fifth month of pregnancy to pray for a safe birth and put on a maternity sash (obi-iwai).

The Day of the Dog shrine visit is still very widely kept.

Technique catalog · draft for review

Every way to wrap, carry and wear a furoshiki.

The furoshiki.com archive, sliced into annotated steps with plain directions, plus techniques found in research.