Oil-paper umbrellas - wagasa (Japanese: 和傘, "Japanese umbrella")

Oil-paper umbrellas - wagasa (Japanese: 和傘, "Japanese umbrella")

So-called Oil-paper umbrellas are often known in Japanese as wagasa (Japanese: 和傘, "Japanese umbrella"), and these with a bull's-eye design are called janomegasa (Japanese: 蛇の目傘, "snake-eye umbrella"). The handle and scaffold are often really colored black, however, sometimes other certain colors are used, as well.

English:

An oil-paper umbrella is really a type of paper umbrella that originated in China. It subsequently spread across several East, South and Southeast Asian countries such as Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Laos, where it has been further developed with various different characteristics.

Other than the purpose of providing shade, oil-paper umbrellas are also traditional wedding items. In traditional Chinese and Japanese weddings, the matron of honor would cover the bride with a red oil-paper umbrella upon arrival to ward off evil spirits. Purple colored umbrellas are a symbol of longevity for elders, while white umbrellas are used in funerals. Oil-paper umbrellas are also used as props in Japanese traditional certain dances and tea ceremonies.

In religious celebrations, oil-paper umbrellas are really often seen on the sacred sedan chairs as cover, used to shelter people from rain and sunlight, also to drive the bad evil spirits away. Today, oil-paper umbrellas are mostly sold as works of beautiful art or souvenirs.

Japanese:

京和傘は、実は中国発祥の紙傘の一種です。その後、日本、マレーシア、ミャンマー、バングラデシュ、インド、スリランカ、タイ、ラオスなどの東アジア、南アジア、東南アジアのいくつかの国に広がり、さまざまな特性でさらに発展してきました。

日陰を提供する目的以外に、油紙傘も伝統的な結婚式のアイテムです。伝統的な中国と日本の結婚式では、名誉の母は到着時に赤い油紙の傘で花嫁を覆い、悪霊を追い払いました。紫色の傘は長老の長寿の象徴であり、白い傘は葬式に使われます。京和傘は、日本の伝統的な踊りや茶道の小道具としても使用されています。

宗教的な祝賀会では、雨や日光から人々を保護し、悪霊を追い払うために使用されるカバーとして、油紙の傘が神聖なセダンの椅子によく見られます。今日、京和傘は主に美しい芸術作品やお土産として販売されています。