The Edo Furin: A Traditional Japanese Wind Chime

This week, the students got the opportunity to decorate their very own Furin (風鈴・ふうりん), a traditional Japanese wind chime. It is common to find Furin hanging on balconies or outside the windows of Japanese households in the summer. Traditionally, they have been used by temples to ward off evil spirits.

For this experience, students decorated an Edo Furin, which are a style of glass wind chimes that originate from the Edo period. They painted their own designs on the inside of the glass, preserving and protecting it from the elements.

Students were introduced to some traditional designs and painting styles. They were shown how to paint flowers, goldfish, fireworks, Mt. Fuji, and more. However, this only meant to serve as a guideline, as students had the creative freedom to paint whatever they would like on the inside of the Furin. 

The student’s designs can be seen in the photos above! Paintings range from Mt Fuji, flowers, and fireworks to cartoon characters like Doraemon! It was nice for the students to take some time away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo to enjoy this moment together as the session comes to a close.