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A wagasa (和傘) or karakasa (唐傘) is a traditional Japanese umbrella made from paper and bamboo. Wagasa are distinguished from western umbrellas by their large number of ribs (spokes?) and their straight rather than rounded shape, resembling cocktail umbrellas.
The name karakasa possibly comes from "kara" meaning "China" or from "karakuri kasa" meaning "trick umbrella".
Unlike a standard umbrella, a wagasa is placed with the top of the umbrella facing upwards when not in use.
History edit
Oil paper umbrellas spread from Korea to Japan during the Asuka period.[citation needed] Initially, the wagasa was a sacred instrument in Buddhist ceremony. During the Heian period, techniques in paper production and bamboo work advanced. In the Muromachi period, pigments and wax were applied to the surface of the paper so it would be more resistant to water.
During the Azuchi-Momoyama period, Luzon Sukezaemon introduced an umbrella with a shield from the Philippines which contributed the popularity of the wagasa. During the Genroku era, modifications were made to enhance its utility to specific circumstances. Some monks and doctors used shorter and thicker umbrellas with business trademarks or logos on them, then lent them to customers as advertisement. Umbrellas also became the geisha's tool as well. In addition, some unemployed Edo period samurai crafted oil paper umbrellas as a secondary occupation. A famous example is the Ajima-kasa (阿島傘), made in Nagano Prefecture, which is still made there.
However, with the popularity of Western umbrellas in the Meiji period, wagasa have diminished markets today, with only a few locations producing it, such as Kyoto, Gifu Prefecture and Yodoe, Tottori.
Construction edit
Parts edit
| Name (Japanese script) | Name (romanized) | Function |
|---|---|---|
| 頭紙, 合布 | zugami, kappa | Top bit of paper |
| 頭紐 | atama himo | String which holds the zugami on. |
| 頭ろくろ | atama rokuro | top core where upper ribs meet shaft |
| 飾り糸 | kagari ito | Decorative string around centre |
| 頭(天)井紙 | ||
| 中置き紙 | nakaokigami | Paper ring where the lower ribs (shōhone) meet the upper ribs (oyahone) |
| 中節 | nakabushi | joint between lower ribs (shōhone) and ribs (oyahone) |
| 平紙 | ||
| 軒 | noki | outside of spines |
| 軒穴 | ||
| 軒爪 | nokizume | bits of the ribs which stick out of the umbrella |
| 軒紙 | nokigami | outermost paper ring |
| 手元ろくろ | temoto rokuro | Bottom core where lower ribs meet shaft |
| はじき | hajiki | Holder of central pole (?) or maybe the clicker which stops the umbrella folding when in use? |
| 親骨 | oya hone | ribs |
| 小骨 | shōhone | lower supporting ribs |
| 柄, 柄竹 | e, etake | handle |
| 石突き | ishitsuki | bottom tip |
| 藤巻 | tō | ? |
| 平紙 | hiragami | Main outer paper |
| 天井紙 | tenjōgami | Main inner paper |
Process of construction edit
- Drying of bamboo
- Slicing bamboo
- Paint with linseed oil
- Drying finished brolly
Materials edit
Spines - four or five year old madake bamboo harvested in October or November.
Rokuro - Ego no ki
Central pole - madake, yadake, metake, or other strong bamboo with a large space between fushis. Wood
, washi, tapioca powder.
Waterproofing with linseed oil (亜麻仁油, amaniyu).
Production edit
Historical
Present day
Designs edit
Janomegasa
Bangasa - coarse oilpaper umbrella
舞踊傘（舞傘）
Types and uses edit
Large red umbrella used in weddings.
Nodate gasa (野点傘) used in outdoor tea ceremony
Parasol which does not have oil on it can last permanently (oiled paper has lifetime of twenty years)[3]
See also edit
JWiki edit
Images edit
Images which might be used in the article.
