1906.10.28

Collection type

Object

Description

Black soapberry seed with short brown feathers tied to form a hane (shuttlecock), used to play hanetsuki. [MC, 06/10/2022]

Geographical reference

Japan

Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan

Cultural groups

Japanese

Person

Field collector Henry Nottidge Moseley

PRM source Amabel Nevill Sollas

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1891

Date collected

By 1891

Acquisition information

Donated: 1906

Materials and processes

Material Bird Feather, Material Plant Seed, Material String, Process Tied

Dimensions

Length: max 55 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1906.10.28

Research and responses

Hanetsuki and Hagoita

Hanetsuki is a traditional Japanese game played at New Year, usually by women, during which players use a hagoita (bat) to hit a hane (shuttlecock) made of soapberry seed and feathers. Hanetsuki can be played by one or more players- the object of the game is to simply keep the hane up in the air for as long as possible. Each time a player drops the hane, they receive an ink marking (used for calligraphy) on their face to indicate a penalty.

Hagoita are elaborately decorated wooden bats, traditionally decorated with images of jewels, gods, flowers and sabres. During the Edo period, hagoita became more ornate, with delicate patterns, gold or silver linings, and detailed designs depicting actors and scenes from the kabuki theatre. Modern varieties of hagoita are decorated with a wider variety of characters, from politicians to cartoon characters.

Etymology

'Hane' means ‘feather’ in Japanese, and 'tsuki' is a conjugated form of a verb, 'tsuku' which means to strike or hit.

History

Is it possible that hanetsuki was developed from the Chinese game tijian-zi (later chien-tsu), which was introduced to Japan from China in the 14th century. The game involved keeping a shuttlecock (a leather ball ornamented with metal and feathers) in the air for as long as possible by kicking it. Chien-tsu was played for centuries, and was featured in French newspaper Le Journal de la jeunesse in 1875, which reported on the game’s difficulty and “ungraceful” nature.

One of the earliest mentions of hanetsuki was in the crown Prince Sadafusa’s newspaper which, during the Muromachi period in 1432, which reported on a shuttlecock event being played at the Imperial Court between a male and female team. It was during this period that hagoita developed their trapezoidal shape and hanetsuki matches were taking place as part of New Year festivities at the Royal Palace. Some historical accounts reported hagoita being thrown into the fire with other offerings during New Year’s celebrations.

Today, hagoita are more commonly sold as decorative charms given to women on oshogatsu (New Year’s Day). Since the Edo period, hagoita have been sold as New Year’s charms at the Hagoitaichi fair as part of the December festival stalls at Tokyo Asakusa Kannon temple grounds. Although hanetsuki is no longer commonly played as a household game at New Year, modern adaptations of hanetsuki (involving a court and net) have been taking place as competitions in Chuo Ward, Tokyo and Kawasaki City for over 60 years.

Symbolism

The 'hane' (shuttlecock) was thought to resemble a dragon-fly which ate mosquitos. Mosquitos were much feared in ancient Japan because they often brought serious illness, with children being especially vulnerable. It was believed that they would be protected throughout the year if they played hanetsuki at New Year. The weight of a shuttlecock is a black seed called "Mukuroji" meaning a child who never suffers from illness'. In 1544 in his book ‘Segen mondo’, Ichijo Furuya called hanetsuki “the game of the little barbaric demons” referring to the idea that hanetsuki chased away evil spirits.

Guillain , J. (2004), Badminton : An Illustrated History, Publibook, Paris.

Kodansha (2022). Hanetsuki, Encyclopedia of Japan, JapanKnowledge Lib: https://ezproxy-prd.bodleian.ox.ac.uk:2683/lib/display/?lid=10800LS000201

Kiritani, E (1995). Vanishing Japan: Traditions, Crafts & Culture, Charles, E. Tuttle Publishing Co. , Inc., Japan.

Nippon-kichi (2007). Hagoita and Hane (Paddle and Shuttle), Nippon-kichi: https://nippon-kichi.jp/article_list.do;jsessionid=CEAD51F82B87D708B97658ED25E52328?p=1261&ml_lang=en

Sensouji (2016). Visit, Asakusa Kannon Senso-Ji: https://www.senso-ji.jp/english/

Tokyo News (2022), Hanetsuki is a sport! Tournament in Chuo Ward Evolution of ancient Japanese play, Tokyo Web: https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/154123?rct=t_news

In Japanese the game is called Hanetsuki; the bat is hagoita and the shuttle cock is hane, made from a soapberry (mukuroji) and feathers. The game is a traditional girl's game played at New Year and is associated with expelling bad luck. [Sources: http://homepage3.nifty.com/hinaya/shougatsueng.htm and http://www.jcccnc.org/community/culture.htm] [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 15/9/2005]

Related Documents File - Photocopy of an article by Robert George, 'Hagoita: From Game to Art' that was published in Anritsu News Winter 2006, Volume 25 Number 119. [ZM 19/10/2006]

Search terms: Sport, Toy and Game, Ball, Game Accessory