THE MEANINGS WOVEN IN
宝船
takarabune
A wish for good fortune, sailing in to you.
Treasure Ship
Fortune that grows →01
Where it comes from
The treasure ship arrives laden with treasure, and it often carries the seven gods of good fortune on board. Its cargo is drawn as a heap of lucky things: a mallet that shakes out riches, a jewel that grants wishes, a straw cloak that hides its wearer, rolled scrolls. There was a custom of placing a picture of the ship under the pillow on one of the first nights of the year, hoping for a good first dream. People have given it a wish for fortune that comes to them, like a ship reaching harbor.
02
On the cloth
On obi, the treasure ship may sail large across the cloth with its sail full, or appear small among other lucky motifs. Here it sits on a cover divided into four panels of gold, red, and pale blue.
03
To give
The treasure ship suits New Year, an opening, or a new business. It is a gift for someone you hope good fortune will sail toward.
A word to keep
初夢
hatsuyume
The first dream of the new year. A picture of the treasure ship under the pillow was said to bring a good one.
From our cloth
Two questions
What does the Treasure Ship (宝船) pattern mean?
A wish for good fortune, sailing in to you. The treasure ship suits New Year, an opening, or a new business.
Where does the 宝船 pattern come from?
The treasure ship arrives laden with treasure, and it often carries the seven gods of good fortune on board. Its cargo is drawn as a heap of lucky things: a mallet that shakes out riches, a jewel that grants wishes, a straw cloak that hides its wearer, rolled scrolls.
