History of Clay Bells (Tsuchi-bue / Dorei) 土鈴
Clay bells (土鈴, dorei) are traditional Japanese folk toys made of earthenware. In ancient Japanese folklore, their sound was believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits, and they were often used as protective charms against supernatural beings.
The Oldest Surviving Clay Bell in Folklore — Hikosan Garagara (英彦山がらがら)
The Hikosan Garagara is said to be Japan’s oldest clay bell, with origins dating back around 800 years. According to tradition, during a time of severe drought across Japan, Emperor Monmu (文武天皇) visited Hikosan Shrine to pray for rain and offered a bell in dedication. Later, during a time of war, the original bell was destroyed in a fire. To preserve its spiritual significance, new clay bells were crafted and distributed among worshippers, marking the origin of the Hikosan Bell.
The colors of the bells carry symbolic meanings: red represents the “sun,” and blue represents “water,” together expressing prayers for abundant harvests. The bell’s cord, made from rice straw, also symbolizes blessings for a bountiful crop.
Evolution:
Sacred religious object → Protective amulet → Folk toy → Tourist craft → Collectible art
Spread Among the People
During the Edo period, Hikosan became an important center for Shugendō practices and religious devotion, attracting many pilgrims. Over time, the garagara bells shifted from being shrine offerings to popular souvenirs and amulets. People would hang them at the front or back of their homes to ward off evil, protect their families from illness, or bury them in rice field waterways as charms for good harvests and protection against pests.
Beyond faith, the shape and sound of the garagara made it popular as a children’s toy (a rattle-like shaker), giving it a dual role as both a sacred talisman and a folk toy.
In the Shōwa era, with the rise of the mingei (folk craft) movement, garagara bells were redefined as regional handicrafts. Tourists increasingly bought them as souvenirs, and they became recognized as part of the wider “Japanese clay bell culture,” alongside other traditions such as Fushimi and Takayama clay bells.
Fushimi Clay Bells — The Prototype of Japanese Clay Bells
The Fushimi dorei (伏見土鈴) is regarded as the most representative of all Japanese clay bells, considered the cultural “center and prototype” of dorei.
Their origins trace back to the late Muromachi to Azuchi–Momoyama period (15th–16th century), when pottery workshops around Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto began producing clay amulets and toys. Over time, this developed into the making of clay bells.
By the Edo period, Fushimi bells had shifted from shrine offerings to popular folk toys and good-luck charms. Pilgrims to Fushimi Inari frequently purchased them as omamori (amulets) or miyage (souvenirs).
Because clay was widely available and easy to mold, Fushimi dolls and bells became prototypes for many regional variations. The style spread across Japan to nearly a hundred local production areas, earning recognition as a “model form” of clay folk toys.
Examples of Designs
From the mid-Edo period onward, Fushimi bells developed increasingly diverse forms, including:
The Twelve Zodiac animals (sold each year according to the zodiac sign)
Foxes (messengers of the Inari deity)
Lucky figures (such as Jizō, Fukujin, Daruma, Ebisu)
Cultural Significance Today
In modern times, clay bells remain both protective amulets and folk crafts. They continue to embody their ancient role in prayers for blessings and protection against misfortune, while also serving as local handicrafts, travel souvenirs, art collectibles, and home decorations.
They represent the blending of faith and everyday life—an enduring symbol of the wisdom found in Japanese cultural traditions.