Towing a treasure ship bearing the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, Gosho ningyo

The dolls portray various images of children absorbed in play, from those that are naked or wearing just a workman’s apron to those wearing splendid clothes or royal finery. What they are holding and their poses also have different meanings, often calling to mind traditional stories including Noh songs and auspicious and epic tales and tales of filial piety. Thus, alongside the wish of parents to raise their children in a certain way, the Japanese philosophy and view of life is expressed in the guise of a child.