In the magical world of Miyazaki, even thin paper figures have weight. They are not just decorations, their flight hides a deep meaning associated with ancient rituals and the inner experiences of the characters. They are light, almost weightless, but cause anxiety. But what do the paper birds in Spirited Away really mean?
In fact, these paper figures have deep roots in Japanese culture. Their prototype is hitogata, small sheets of paper in the shape of a person. In Shinto temples, such figures are used in the Great Purification ritual.
A person writes his name on it, blows on the paper and gives it to the priest. It is believed that the figure absorbs all the bad things, illnesses, fears, failures. And then the priest sends all the hitogata on the water to take all the negativity away from life.
In Spirited Away, this image received a different meaning. Miyazaki seems to have turned the symbol upside down: instead of purification, the paper figures become an instrument of persecution and control.
They appear at the moment when Haku has already violated the boundary between good and evil, betraying himself for the sake of Yubaba's power. The paper birds literally and symbolically tear him apart, as if past mistakes do not allow him to break free.
In this way, Miyazaki subtly reminds: magic is not only a miracle, but also a responsibility. The paper birds become a sign of internal guilt and a call for redemption.
