For the Japanese, the red-headed crane 丹頂鶴 (tancho:zuru) symbolizes prosperity and longevity. As an image or symbol, the crane appears in many traditional arts in Japan.
Symbols of crane in Japan
Japanese crane: legends and tales
The image of a crane is found in many literary works. For example, the story of a wounded crane, which turned into a beautiful girl, is very widely known in Japan. This girl married the boy who saved her. The girl had a gift: she wove amazing fabrics from her feathers. But at one point, her husband spied on how she wove the fabrics, and saw her true form, so the girl turned into a crane and flew away. It is believed that the crane, turns into a human, traveling and looking for people who would need help. Cranes in such stories are a symbol of purity and virtue, readiness for selfless help.
The image of a crane is found in many literary works. For example, the story of a wounded crane, which turned into a beautiful girl, is very widely known in Japan. This girl married the boy who saved her. The girl had a gift: she wove amazing fabrics from her feathers. But at one point, her husband spied on how she wove the fabrics, and saw her true form, so the girl turned into a crane and flew away. It is believed that the crane, turns into a human, traveling and looking for people who would need help. Cranes in such stories are a symbol of purity and virtue, readiness for selfless help.
Japanese crane in fine art
The image of cranes in Japanese culture conveyed the subtlest semantic nuances. For example, let's take a look at Kiyohara Yukinobu's “Thousand Cranes Among the Pine and Bamboo”. Cranes frolicking among the pines meant stamina and power, since the pine is a symbol of inner strength, steadfastness and perseverance. Bamboo is able to endure both hot summers and icy winters, it symbolizes protection and endurance. Images of cranes among bamboo mean good luck associated with a happy and long life. You can find a lot of examples, and in all the crane will symbolize stamina and confidence.
The image of cranes in Japanese culture conveyed the subtlest semantic nuances. For example, let's take a look at Kiyohara Yukinobu's “Thousand Cranes Among the Pine and Bamboo”. Cranes frolicking among the pines meant stamina and power, since the pine is a symbol of inner strength, steadfastness and perseverance. Bamboo is able to endure both hot summers and icy winters, it symbolizes protection and endurance. Images of cranes among bamboo mean good luck associated with a happy and long life. You can find a lot of examples, and in all the crane will symbolize stamina and confidence.
Sadako Sasaki and 1000 Cranes
Sadako Sasaki was the most ordinary Japanese girl living in the city of Hiroshima. But at the age of two, she, along with other townspeople, survived the release of the atomic bomb. About a month later, the survivors who were near Hiroshima began to die from an incomprehensible disease. Sadako lived for 10 years, not suspecting that she had radiation sickness. During her stay in the hospital, her friend Chizuko came to Sasaki, who told her a legend: it is believed that a crane lives for a thousand years, and if you make a thousand paper cranes, the patient will definitely get better. Sadako believed in this legend and began to make cranes from everything that came into her hands. Unfortunately, the girl managed to make only 644 cranes. This story reveals to us a new meaning that the Japanese have begun to put into the image of the crane since then. The crane has become a symbol of hope.
Sadako Sasaki was the most ordinary Japanese girl living in the city of Hiroshima. But at the age of two, she, along with other townspeople, survived the release of the atomic bomb. About a month later, the survivors who were near Hiroshima began to die from an incomprehensible disease. Sadako lived for 10 years, not suspecting that she had radiation sickness. During her stay in the hospital, her friend Chizuko came to Sasaki, who told her a legend: it is believed that a crane lives for a thousand years, and if you make a thousand paper cranes, the patient will definitely get better. Sadako believed in this legend and began to make cranes from everything that came into her hands. Unfortunately, the girl managed to make only 644 cranes. This story reveals to us a new meaning that the Japanese have begun to put into the image of the crane since then. The crane has become a symbol of hope.
The crane was and remains one of the most common symbols that pervades all corners of modern Japanese life. What do you know about cranes?
