Antique Japanese Ebisu Ofuda – Nishinomiya Jinja Shrine Talisman, 19th-Century

Antique Japanese woodblock ofuda issued by Nishinomiya Jinja (also historically called Settsu no kuni Daijingū, as seen in the watermark). The print depicts Ebisu, the Shintō god of prosperity and luck, holding his fishing rod and a sea bream—symbols of abundant catch and thriving trade.

This talisman was overprinted on handmade washi paper featuring a rare watermark reading “Settsu no kuni Daijingū”, used in the 19th century to ensure the authenticity of shrine-issued prints—extremely rare outside Japan. The vermilion seal at lower left reads Hōnō Sesshū Nishinomiya Taisha Gohan (“Official offering seal of the Great Shrine of Nishinomiya in Settsu Province”).

At the lower left appears a large vermilion seal reading Hōnō Sesshū Nishinomiya Taisha Gohan (奉納摂州西宮大社御判), which translates as “Official offering seal of the Great Shrine of Nishinomiya in Settsu Province.” This seal served as a sacred guarantee that the print was not a secular artwork but a true shrine-issued talisman (ofuda), distributed to worshippers as a divine blessing. The inclusion of this seal tied the image directly to the rituals of Nishinomiya Jinja and certified it as an object of protection for home and trade.

Equally significant is the rare watermark impressed into the handmade washi. It reads Settsu no kuni Daijingū (摂津国大神宮), meaning “Great Shrine of Settsu Province,” another historical name of Nishinomiya Jinja. Watermarks of this type were used in the 19th century to authenticate shrine papers and talismans, ensuring their origin and sacred power. Together with the vermilion seal and the image of Ebisu, the watermark creates a triple confirmation of authenticity, reinforcing the print’s role as a spiritual protector and a bearer of prosperity.

Period: Late Edo to early Meiji (circa 1840–1880s)

Material: Handmade washi with watermark, vermilion seal

Size: approx. 19 × 26 cm

Condition: Original with natural age patina; watermark visually intact

This ofuda offers a triple guarantee of authenticity and sacred origin—image, seal, and watermark. An exceptional piece for collectors of Japanese religious art, folklore, and antique shrine talismans.

Secure shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido).

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