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Karakuri Puppets

Karakuri are mechanical puppets and clockwork automata that were a popular source of entertainment in the late Edo period (1603–1867). Three of the Takayama Festival floats are adorned with elaborate karakuri puppets, whose movements are controlled by teams of puppeteers. Each member of the team sits inside the float and controls a small part of the puppet, and each team must synchronize their movements to make the movement of the puppet as smooth as possible.

Although various forms of karakuri have been made since at least the seventh century, they were not common in Japan until the latter half of the sixteenth century and the introduction of Western clockwork technology. In many respects, the mechanisms used in karakuri represent the technological peak of the Edo period.

The development of karakuri was strongly influenced by the laws of the time. In the 1690s, the Tokugawa shogunate passed sumptuary laws that prevented the lower classes from having fine clothes, grand estates, or possessions that were overly ornate. Festival floats were granted exemptions under these laws, so townspeople who wanted to display their wealth could only do so by commissioning various items to be used in festivals, including intricately crafted karakuri.

From the early 1700s to the late 1800s, most of the Takayama Festival floats had at least one karakuri puppet, but many of them have been lost to fire and other circumstances. Only 4 of the 23 floats used in the Takayama Festival today still have karakuri attached. There are karakuri on the Sanbansō, the Shakkyōtai, and the Ryūjintai floats used in the spring festival, and on the Hoteitai float used in the autumn festival. This display includes karakuri previously used on the Sanbansō and Shakkyōtai floats.

卡拉庫里人偶

卡拉庫里人偶也叫機關人偶，靠機械傳動或鐘錶發條自動運行，盛行於江戶時代（1603-1867）晚期。高山祭「屋台」（花車）上的卡拉庫里人偶由人偶師團隊同步操控。人偶師們坐在花車內，每人控制人偶的一小部分，操作越同步，人偶的動作就越自然流暢。

16世紀下半葉鐘錶工藝從西方傳入後，卡拉庫里人偶才在日本流行起來，它代表著江戶時代的工藝巔峰。這種人偶的流行也與幕府發布的「儉約令」密不可分。當時下層百姓被禁止享用奢侈品，只能將最精巧的物品用於祭典，其中就包括做工複雜的卡拉庫里人偶。

現有高山祭的23輛屋台中，僅4輛上仍有卡拉庫里人偶，它們是春祭使用的「三番叟」、「石橋台」、「龍神台」和秋祭使用的「布袋台」。本館展示的卡拉庫里人偶來自三番叟和石橋台兩輛屋台。

卡拉库里人偶

卡拉库里人偶也叫机关人偶，靠机械传动或钟表发条自动运行，盛行于江户时代(1603-1867)晚期。高山祭“屋台”（花车）上的卡拉库里人偶由人偶师团队同步操控。人偶师们坐在花车内，每人控制人偶的一小部分，操作越同步，人偶的动作就越自然流畅。

16世纪下半叶钟表工艺从西方传入后，卡拉库里人偶才在日本流行起来，它代表着江户时代的工艺巅峰。这种人偶的流行也与幕府发布的“俭约令”密不可分。当时下层百姓被禁止享用奢侈品，只能将最精巧的物品用于祭典，其中就包括做工复杂的卡拉库里人偶。

现有高山祭的23辆屋台中，仅4辆上仍有卡拉库里人偶，它们是春祭使用的“三番叟”“石桥台”“龙神台”和秋祭使用的“布袋台”。本馆展示的卡拉库里人偶来自三番叟和石桥台两辆屋台。