災厄を身代わりしてくれるものとして、また愛玩用として日本人の生活に深いかかわりを持ってきた人形。京人形は、平安時代(8 末~12 世紀)、貴族の子供たちの遊び道具であった「ひいな人形」がその起源だといわれ、今日では、浮世人形、雛人形、五月人形、御所人形、市松人形など多くの種類が作られています。頭、髪付け、手足、小道具、着付(雛人形)などに製造工程が分業化されているのが特徴です。技術の高さと、細部まで丁寧に仕上げる伝統が高く評価されています。

Dolls have long been used in Japanese life both as toys and as talismans which deflect misfortune from the owner. Kyoto dolls are said to have originated in the hina dolls that were toys of aristocrats' children during the Heian Period from 8th to 12th centuries. Today, they include a wide range of doll types. For example, ukiyo dolls, dolls representing female commoners, made so the kimono hem can be lifted, hina dolls, representing the imperial retinue for the Girls' Festival, gogatsu dolls, for the Boys' Festival, gosho dolls, ceramic dolls of corpulent boys, and ichimatsu dolls which made from molded sawdust, named for their resemblance to Sonogawa Ichimatsu, an 18th century kabuki actor. Hina dolls in particular are made by numerous artisans who fabricate specific components such as the heads, hairstyles, hairstyles, hands and feet, accessories, and clothing. They are widely known for their technical skill and tradition of attention to fine detail.