In Nara period in Japan, paper was a new materials which was brought by high technology at that age. At any age, new things by high technology is precious and novel to be respected.
Paper existed as a media to communicate with God, while man had a fear and made a big effort to admire a nature. The cleanness and the purity of Japanese paper was respected, because it was made out of the spirit of wood through clean water. Papers were used in various ways, such as ropes for Shrine and a household alter and also as a rapping paper of votive offering. Communication with gods through papers was important for everyone to get a safety and a comfort, and tried to get it more again.
Sacred paper protect being dirty and devilish. The reason why Japanese rice cake is rapped and bond with red and white paper strings is to protect from devils. And also to avoid a heart of celebration flying away. Rapping is a stamped seal of cleanness and a proof of respect. "Packaging" has many symbolic meanings.
In Edo period, the age of mass production and mass consumption started, as culture of townsman was developed. Papers were used in various scene of their lives, like traveling
pharmacy of Toyama invented new supply system of medicine rapped in paper. And people got familiar with using rapping papers.
Besides the way of pocket paper was spread and the way of Ohineri was invented. Ohineri is a way to give a tip to the players of theater, when the play is done and succeeded in and the audience is so excited that they can not stop applauding the players. They throw the money rapped in paper. The shape of Ohineri is so beautiful as a flying butterfly.
It is not a popular way in the world like Ohineri. And this habit to rap the money in pocket paper or writing paper is still alive, as a present money to children in new year and a gift money to professionals.Especially in Kansai area(western area in Japan) it is called "Pochibukuro" and this habit makes me feel comfortable and calm in my mind.
Noshi bukuro, attached to a gift, has a rigid systems and manuals how to use, according to the occasions, so that people sometimes is embarrassed how to do it.
Various kinds of technologies were applied to papers. The width of usage and depth of meanings of papers were broaden. Such as Chiyogami, paper with colored figures wood printed by hands,and Aburagami, oiled and waxed paper for water proof. After the age of Media to Gods, papers became in use to carry messages in letters and transport things in package.
Originally in Japan, natural materials like wood and leaf was used for package of foods. Chimaki, one of the typical Japanese rice cake, maintains the excellent way to cock and reserve foods, and its Asian way of treating food packages strikes me a lot, no limitation of wisdom.
Recently, "over package" is a big debatable question. One of the way of over package is so called raised bottom. Recognition that "The bigger the Better" is a kind of expression of mass culture. One hand, this has a reason that one intend to express his respectful mind to the contents and give it a special character. On the other hand, attitude of expressing," the smaller the better", like a fairy tales of Sitakiri-Suzume, is surely exist.
I wonder why we, Japanese, are fond of packing or rapping the things so much? When Japanese are in abroad for his travel, almost of all travelers find and think why these packages at the gift shops are poor or simple. There might be certain reason why, it is rational and economy,one thinks. Japanese,I think, really want to pack his gift mind by his sense of heart through rapping the things.
Japanese word "Tsutsushimi-bukai", discreet or prudent, means to pack his mind in the deep. "Okuyukashii", graceful or elegant, means to rap his heart in the bottom, even if surface were rough. Both expression has a basic concept of Japanese to pack and rap the things.
I happened to see so called "Paper Bag Lady" in New York City a long time ago. She only had a big paper bag, and really was a homeless lady. Even It is a miserable case today, but it suggested me that " Bag can contain everything including his history, life and culture".
Ookuninushi-no-mikoto, one of the gods from myth of Japan, has huge bag with him which support any activities during his travel. It is as if the all-mighty tools for the astronauts in the space.
The paper bag, being zero weight and zero thickness as much as possible, can pack everything regardless as the shape nor the form of the contents. It might be or must be the Angel's bag which I eager to have.
Satisfaction after shopping and Dreams for the future are in the paper bags, which are curried by the street walkers in the city. Everyone need paper bag to maintain his daily life and also to fulfill his future dreams.
Angel's bag is package with overflowing dreams and future.
S.P.C.NEWS vol.3 1986 the package history
In our Thea century, the crystal of beauty is found in "simplicity".
What will it be in the next Century?
Thanks Mr. K. Fujimoto for English Translation fujimoto@gk-design.co.jp
Think Visually, Act Graphically!