Furin - simple decoration or deep meaning?

As you can see the symbol of this blog is a Japanese wind bell - furin. But what is it for? How was it created? Let's dive into its history.

How did it appear?
2000 years ago, a category of bells appeared in China, which were the predecessor of furin - 占風鐸 zhanfando. Basically, this metal bell was used for fortune telling. The Chinese hung a bell in a bamboo forest and made a prediction based on the direction of the wind and the sound it made from it.

However, the scope of application of this little thing, which came to Japan along with Buddhism in the Nara era, has undergone changes: now it has begun to be used to protect against any evil spirits. The Japanese believed that the wind chime protects from any misfortune

if it hangs in the most vulnerable place - under the cornice on the southwestern side of the house. In addition, people adapted the name of the bell to their language and began to call it 風鐸 fu: taku.

Magic Attrebut

For a long time, the Japanese believed that strong winds spread diseases and various troubles throughout the country. It was here that the futaku came in handy, which, when the wind appeared, made a sound, thereby warning of danger and driving away any evil.

At first, this bell was hung in temples to protect against natural disasters and evil spirits. Later, from the 12th century, noble people began to use such a means of protection, for example, during outbreaks of plague epidemics. The rest of the people could not purchase this item due to the high cost of phosphorous bronze, from which it was made.

Furin - a simplified version of the Chinese bell

In the 18th century, Dutch merchants brought in a completely new material for the Japanese - glass. This material aroused people's interest, and from that moment the glass making technique began to develop in the country.

Glass products have gained popularity in the country and fashion has not bypassed the wind chime. Now they began to make it from the material that was more in demand at that time. However, at first such a thing was very expensive and inaccessible to ordinary people, the approximate price was from 2 to 3 million yen.

Our days

These days, these Japanese bells appear less and less on the eaves of houses, especially when it comes to the metropolis. Nevertheless, furin is still not forgotten: they are massively used at various festivals and festivals - after all, during this time they have become a part of Japanese culture.

What does it look like?

The main feature of the bell is a flower-shaped bowl. However, there are bells with a round bowl, with a bowl made in the shape of domestic and wild animals. Bells are made of glass, stone and metal. The Japanese bell furin has a different structure. The main feature of the bell is a flower-shaped bowl. However, there are bells with a round bowl, with a bowl made in the shape of domestic and wild animals. Bells are made of glass, stone and metal.

The name of the bell depens on the material furin made of:

Glass bells - GARASU FURIN (硝子風鈴).
Bells made of precious metals are called KINGIN FURIN (金銀風鈴).
If the material for the bell is wood, then it is called TAKE FURIN (竹風鈴).
The clay bells are called NENDO FURIN (粘土).
The most durable and melodic are cast-iron bells. They are called TETSU FURIN (鉄風鈴).

How does it sound?

The ringing of the furin, in contrast to the music of the wind, is more like the singing of a lonely bird, which greets a new day with a cheerful trill. In Japan, furin is considered a symbol of summer and coolness. The Japanese believe that if you hang several bells on the window in the heat, then the house will be calm and cool. The Japanese tie pieces of paper with poetic text or wishes for happiness and prosperity to the bell tongue.

Furins rarely buy one at a time. The Japanese believe that you need to have several bells at home, each of which will play its own unique melody. Several bells swaying to the beat of the fresh summer wind emit a pleasant and melodic polyphony.

And this is how furins are made: