History

In and ancient game dating back to 644AD , its first reference in history is at the Imperial Court


       The history of Temari is obscure, yet colorful.
 
     
     As Buddist missionaries traveled east from   
  India through China and Korea to Japan, they
  spread their religious beliefs and culture.
       

      History  books indicate that Temari most likely
  began as a folk craft  in ancient Japan during the
  Nara Period.
 
    


























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  In an ancient game dating back to 644AD, its first reference in history is at the Imperial Court.
The ball was shaped like two thick buns and stuffed with horses hair.

 
  Eventually the ball evolved into a children's tossing ball made by loving mothers to amuse and entertain their children.

 
  Temari was handed down from generation to
generation, mother to daughter.
  It gradually spread and also became popular in regional towns where each developed its own techniques, beauty and local color schemes.


  As rubber balls were introduced the popularity of Temari began to decline.


  Since WWI a rekindling of interest has been taking place in Japan and has spread energetically into the United States.


  Today Art Collectors and Museums display the lovely thread wrapped Temari Balls. Modern uses include Temari as gifts or tokens of good luck.
Regarded as the Japanese symbol of perfection, Temari is given in joy and happiness.

The tradition remains as a mother places a ball on her child's pillow on the last night of the year. When
sleepy eyes open in the morning, the first happy vision of the New Year is the Symbol of a Mother's perfect love.