Female doll with black hair. Wearing traditional red costume with gold embellishments and gold ribbon.
The doll is used as a centerpiece Empress doll or mebina for the Hina-matsuri festival. It is displayed on platforms covered with red material alongside an emperor doll (obina). The Empress and Emperor wear traditional dress from the Heian period (794-1185). Court ladies, accompanying ministers, and attendants are displayed alongside them. Hina-matsuri, also called dolls day or girl’s day is a religious holiday celebrated on the 3rd March every year in Japan. The dolls are supposed to protect little girls from bad spirits.