Japanese Rain Chain

Japanese rain chain history is rather interesting. If you are going to have a Japanese rain chain hanging from the edge of your home in place of a downspout, your friends and neighbors will notice – and it’s good to be prepared with “the rest of the story” in case they ask about it.

The Japanese rain chain originated hundreds of years ago. Here in America, we often see a rainy day as a negative thing, an inconvenience, something to be avoided. The people of Japan, being very much in touch with nature, sought to live in harmony with all weather conditions. Rather than avoid the rain or just tolerate it, they embraced it and saw the good that it offers. This is how the Japanese rain chain came about.

They called it kusari-doi, and that name remains today. The Japanese rain chain was seen as something that could serve on many levels.

First, they saw that it could serve as a functional alternative to the downspouts that were already in use. The rainwater would fall from the sky to the house, perhaps first serving to water a rooftop garden. From there, it makes its way to the gutter at the edge of the roof. Once there, gravity causes the water to travel a slight downhill path to the end where there is a hole in the bottom. This is where the Japanese rain chain is attached, and it guides the water as it continues toward the ground. From a purely functional standpoint, the transportation of rainwater is handled quite efficiently.

But the Japanese saw this as more than just an object that served a purpose. To them, it was not just a thing to be used for a particular service; they saw it as a form of artistry as well. The Japanese culture is one that takes great joy in the beauty of simplicity and universal balance (it may help to think yin and yang, the popular Buddhist practice of using opposites to balance each other). Look at the Japanese flag as another example of simplicity: a plain white background with a bright red circle in the center. So the Japanese rain chain was (and still is) viewed as a way to live simply and in harmony with the natural elements of the world.

The Japanese culture is steeped in rich history, and they are a people that place great value on continuing many of their traditions. This is why, on many of the homes owned by people of Japanese heritage, you will find a Japanese rain chain (or several). It fits in well with the architectural style and the other elements of home decoration in use, such as choice of wood, arrangement of furniture, etc. You will even see rain chains on some new homes being built today, as developers are seeing them as a way to distinguish their homes from the others that have the “traditional” downspouts.

One thing should be noted. Some have said that the use of a Japanese rain chain contributes to the feng shui of a home. Feng shui is based on the concept that the home must have a balance and “flow” of positive energy based on the geographical layout (which way a door should face, where a mirror needs to be hung, what color the flowers in a particular room should be, etc.). Many followers of this philosophy build their home based on it, and even have a feng shui “master” come in and advise them on various related issues. However, please be aware that feng shui originated in China, not Japan. So while it may be a good practice to follow in terms of living in harmony with nature and the environment, rain chains are not directly related to feng shui.

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