Vintage Japanese Somin Shorai Buddhist Worship Wooden Amulet Charm

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

Vintage Japanese Somin Shorai Buddhist Worship Wooden Amulet CharmDETAILS OF ITEMThis piece measures 2.75 inches tall. It is a wooden hexagonal shaped amulet charm folk toy based on popular folk belief called Somin Shorai worship.Made from a type of willow tree, it is an amulet for the prayer for good luck and especially for good health and sickness prevention. Somin Shorai worship has a very long history: Japan's oldest amulet dating more than 1,200 years old was excavated in Kyoto and it was a Somin Shorai charm.The Bingo Fudoki is an ancient document denoting the Bingo (present day Hiroshima) region's history, culture and folklore. According to this document, Susano-O-no-Mikoto, the brother of Sun Goddess Amaterasu, was traveling disguised as an old beggar in the Bingo area and needed a place to stay for the night. Kotan Shorai, a man of great wealth in the region refused to give him lodging but his elder brother, Somin Shorai was happy to welcome Susano-O for a night's lodging even though he was very poor.The next day when Susano-O was about to leave, he told Somin to make a small ring with congongrass (Imperata cylindrica) and wear it around the waist that would bring him great luck and protection and would prevent Somin and his family from getting sick during great plagues. Ever since that time, the Somin family and his descendants read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.