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favors
Jul 7, 2005 15:57:49 GMT -5
Post by Hiroda Ujio on Jul 7, 2005 15:57:49 GMT -5
As most of us know, the giving of favor's from ones consort/family/house/friends is a pretty common practice in the sca. Does anybody happen to know if the japanese had a similar practice and what it entailed?
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adarael
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Mishima no Akikata
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favors
Jul 7, 2005 17:09:20 GMT -5
Post by adarael on Jul 7, 2005 17:09:20 GMT -5
While I can't speak of favors that would be displayed on the battlefield, as many SCA fighters seem to, I can assure you that favors - inasmuch as they were gifts - were and still are a huge part of Japanese culture. In terms of 'I think you're pretty keen' style favors go, I figure there are three major types of things given:
-Items for wear and/or display on one's person in a public setting. -Items for display in the home. -'Fun' or 'thoughtful' items.
Items for wear and/or display on one's person could include things such as clothing (dobuku, etc), inro, obi, netsuke, furoshiki cloth (the name of which escapes me) et cetera. These were, as I have heard, distinguished by having the giver's mon or household colors/pattern or by simply being of good quality. There's a lot of possibility for SCA-style favors with these items.
Items for display in the home would include paintings, laquerware, wall-scroll calligraphy - I'm unsure if hand-scroll format items were expected to be carried or simply kept in the home - and other such items that would be cumbersome or unusual to carry when out-and-about.
Items that are of a 'fun' or 'thoughtful' nature are the vast majority of presents nowadays, and I imagine this was the case back in period as well. Poems tied to a flower or a twig (chosen to accentuate the subject matter), origami, small carvings or other physically small items that are 'temporary.' The idea with these is that it shows you were thinking about the individual, but don't presume that they're so poor off that you need to give them something with a practical use.
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Saionji Shonagon
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One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
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favors
Jul 7, 2005 17:35:55 GMT -5
Post by Saionji Shonagon on Jul 7, 2005 17:35:55 GMT -5
Keep in mind, folks, that about 90% of the "favors" that our European brethren carry aren't period for pre-1600 Europe.
Good quality yes, mon, not necessarily.
I don't think that origami as we know it dates to before 1600. Poems, letters or devotional offerings might be folded in a certain way, but the critters and cranes are a bit more modern.
For the Twelfth Night that Makiwara first appeared in the West Kingdom, I composed a waka and printed it on pretty paper which I folded into narrow strips, then knotted. Anybody who was bright enough to recognize me received the poem as a favor.
"Like pine branches seen Through robes of new fallen snow You see my true guise. Pray keep my secret, O Friend, That others may be surprised."
Don't forget fans. Heian literature abounds with references to fans, often used as media for poems or letters.
M.
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adarael
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favors
Jul 7, 2005 17:39:54 GMT -5
Post by adarael on Jul 7, 2005 17:39:54 GMT -5
No, not necessarily. I'm just quoting Date-dono on this one.
I confess, I have no idea either way. I've never looked too much into the history of origami. I was thinking of a particular story of a poem that Fujiwara no Teika gave someone or other, with it folded up in a vaguely chrysanthemum like pattern. Then again, that story may have been fancy and not accurate.
Edit: On second rememberance, it may have been a story about Ariwara no Narihira.
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Saionji Shonagon
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Jul 7, 2005 17:49:45 GMT -5
Post by Saionji Shonagon on Jul 7, 2005 17:49:45 GMT -5
If you can figure out which, or where you saw the story, let me know. Weeding through the claims of "ancient" vs. "traditional" isn't just for martial arts.
Cheers, M.
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adarael
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Jul 7, 2005 17:50:41 GMT -5
Post by adarael on Jul 7, 2005 17:50:41 GMT -5
I'll dig through my old course readers and see if I can find it.
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AJBryant
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favors
Jul 8, 2005 0:10:01 GMT -5
Post by AJBryant on Jul 8, 2005 0:10:01 GMT -5
No, it's not part part of the Japanese tradition.
Effingham
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adarael
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Jul 8, 2005 1:56:53 GMT -5
Post by adarael on Jul 8, 2005 1:56:53 GMT -5
Seeing as how I'm nearly wholly unclear as to what a 'favor' in the western sense means, other than 'have a present because I think you're keen', I could be wholly off-base.
So, like... In the context of the SCA, what is a favor, anyway?
Can you tell I'm new here? I don't know what anything is.
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favors
Jul 8, 2005 7:18:22 GMT -5
Post by Please Delete on Jul 8, 2005 7:18:22 GMT -5
Locks of hair in folded, scented paper seems right for some reason--I'm not sure where I saw that. Genji constantly seems to have 'rememberances' of his trysts, and I believe at least once he is actually wearing a woman's hitoe under his robes (which seemed really odd, to me).
Just some thoughts: take a look at Tale of Genji or Eiga Monogatari ("Tales of Flowering Fortune") for some possible ideas as to what might be given between people.
-Ii
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Saionji Shonagon
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favors
Jul 8, 2005 8:25:39 GMT -5
Post by Saionji Shonagon on Jul 8, 2005 8:25:39 GMT -5
In the context of the SCA, it's usually a rectangular chunk of fabric that can be hung from a fighter's belt, mostly decorated in some fashion with the giver's device. There is no evidence that such chunks existed in the real Middle Ages. I once made one of these stupid things for a guy. He destroyed it on his way out of an armchair. I made another one out of heavy suede with Jehanne's painted on it. It was freakin' hideous. I also embroidered a garter and gave him that. He preferred the leather abomination. There's a decent article on favors and tokens at: hometown.aol.com/noramunro/Tokens/index.htmM.
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favors
Jul 8, 2005 9:53:39 GMT -5
Post by Takeda Sanjuichiro on Jul 8, 2005 9:53:39 GMT -5
...It was freakin' hideous. I also embroidered a garter and gave him that. He preferred the leather abomination.. Figures My own wonderful lady made a favor for me, a length of kumihimo braid in both her colors and mine. Frequently I use it to tie my kosode closed, or use it to tie back my sleeves; so it is not altogether obvious to others. (I have been known to fish it out to show people ::rummages in hakama:: "hey you want to see my cord? ;D ) It is most useful and quite cherished, and seems very Japanese to me.
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favors
Jul 8, 2005 10:25:28 GMT -5
Post by Date Saburou Yukiie on Jul 8, 2005 10:25:28 GMT -5
As has been mentioned, I do not believe favors for personal combat, in the manner of a French lady tearing off a silken sleeve eith tear stained eyes and tying it on the arm of her chevalier was a custom in Japan, however, in SCA context, I see no reason why gifts could not be given to "favored" ones. Date
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Saionji Shonagon
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favors
Jul 8, 2005 13:58:15 GMT -5
Post by Saionji Shonagon on Jul 8, 2005 13:58:15 GMT -5
Both of my personae like being able to give gifts, which is NOT the same as having someone wear my (Jehanne's) favor. If I present something to a gentleman as a favor, the implication is that we have come to a mutual agreement that he would fight for me (additional relationship optional).
If I give someone a gift, it can be for ANY reason, including, "You made me smile today." Or, "I think you're cool." (I really DO need to give Tangwystl a monkey charm on the grounds that she has a vocabulary and isn't afraid to use it.)
When I was still back east, whoever was Queen for Pennsic would distribute favors (usually made by members of the populace) to the fighters, fencers and archers of the East, a practice I mentally equated with wearing royal livery.
M.
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favors
Jul 8, 2005 15:57:11 GMT -5
Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Jul 8, 2005 15:57:11 GMT -5
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favors
Jul 8, 2005 16:08:36 GMT -5
Post by Please Delete on Jul 8, 2005 16:08:36 GMT -5
For some reason, I picture them on o-sode and older multi-plate kabuto, so I definitely think they are older rather than later.
-Ii
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