Retro Izumo Taisha Shrine Lucky Ladle Wooden Rice Paddle for Bountiful Harvests and Good Fortune Decoration

#Fukushakushi ( #福杓子 ) are lucky charms, particularly those awarded at places like #IzumoTaisha Shrine in #Shimane Prefecture, wishing for #BountifulHarvests and #GoodFortune. Based on the ladle used for serving rice, they carry the profound meaning of scooping away misfortune and receiving #Happiness.

Here's how they are generally used and displayed:
1. Display as a lucky charm (common)
The most common way to use them is to display them in a clean place, such as a #ShintoAltar or living room.
Location: Shinto altar, #BuddhistAltar, or a bright place where the family gathers, like the living room or kitchen.
Orientation: Display them with the scooping part (head) facing upwards or placed horizontally, symbolizing the intake of good fortune.
Purpose: To ward off misfortune and wish for #FamilyHarmony, #GoodHealth, and #BusinessProsperity.
2. Use for serving rice or in #Cooking
It is also possible to use them as actual ladles for serving rice.
They are used in daily meals, signifying receiving the #BlessingsOfDeities directly.
There is also a meaning of wishing for abundance and #ImprovementOfTalents, particularly derived from the shape of Benzaiten's biwa (the origin of the #MiyajimaShakushi).
*For wooden ones, it's important to wash and dry them thoroughly after use, as drying them out can cause cracking.
3. Carry as a #Talisman
4. Disposal Method
Old ones are generally returned to the shrine where they were purchased or offered for burning (otakiage) during events like Dondoyaki (Sagicho) held at local shrines.


Features: Made of #LightWood with a nearly flat shape. Features a pyrographic illustration of #Daikoku (#Daikokuten). (The color and engraving are shallow.) A coin is falling from a #UchideNoKozuchi (magic mallet).
There is a pressed seal of Izumo Taisha Shrine on the handle. (It is faint.)
Condition: I believe this is quite old, from the Showa to early Heisei era. I don't recall if it was used as a rice ladle, but it has been stored for a long time. There are scratches on the edges, the bottom of the handle, etc.
Approximate size cm
Width: 6.8
Total length: 20.5

*Will be protected and waterproofed for shipping.

#Chirashizushi #MixedRice #Crafts #TolePainting #Material #Plaque #Wood #Spatula #WoodenSpatula #NaturalMaterial #NaturalWood #Natural #Japan #TraditionalCraft #Antique #Retro #ShowaRetro #HeiseiRetro #WoodenLadle

J4-0140,0180