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Henohenomoheji (Japanese:へのへのもへじHEH-noh-HEH-noh-moh-HEH-jee) orhehenonomoheji (へへののもへじ) is a face known to be drawn byJapaneseschoolchildren usinghiragana characters.[1] It became a popular drawing during theEdo period.[2]
The word breaks down into sevenhiragana characters:he (へ),no (の),he (へ),no (の),mo (も),he (へ), andji (じ). The first twohe are theeyebrows, the twono are theeyes, themo is anose, and the lasthe is themouth. The outline of the face is made by the characterji, its two short strokes (dakuten) forming theear orcheek.
Henohenomoheji is often used to symbolize an undistinguished or generic human face, such as the faces ofkakashi (scarecrows)[1] andteru teru bōzu. The characters are often sung as they are drawn, making thehenohenomoheji anekaki uta (絵描き歌, drawing song).[2]
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