Box - Wood - 御文箱/漆器/蒔絵　lacquerware

Shipping method- The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL or FedEx depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customs or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation.

Item Description
This is a rare and exceptional antique Japanese lacquer document chest known as an Ofumi-bako (御文箱) — a sacred Buddhist ritual box used in the Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land) sect of Buddhism. Such boxes were crafted to house the Ofumi (御文), the revered letters composed by the 8th abbot Rennyo Shonin (1415–1499), who is regarded as the restorer of the Jodo Shinshu faith and one of the most important figures in Japanese Buddhist history. This particular example features five drawers, corresponding to the Gojo Ofumi — the five-volume compilation of Rennyo's 80 selected letters — a format known as the hikidashi gojo-iri (引出五帖入), the most ceremonial type of Ofumi-bako.
The exterior is finished in deep black urushi lacquer with maki-e (蒔絵) gold lacquer ornamentation, and is adorned with commanding chrysanthemum crest (kikka mon / 菊花紋) medallions on the lid, front panel, and sides. The chrysanthemum crest carries immense cultural weight in Japan: originating with Emperor Go-Toba in the Kamakura period, it became the exclusive emblem of the Imperial House, and its appearance on sacred Buddhist objects speaks to the profound intertwining of imperial and religious authority throughout Japanese history. The drawer pulls and metal edging are in aged gilt brass, contributing to the piece's gravitas.
The interior of each drawer is lined with golden floral brocade fabric (nishiki), and the set includes the original manuscript books — handwritten texts in classical brush calligraphy on fine paper with gold brocade covers, believed to be the Ofumi scriptures. The books are in remarkably fine condition, in striking contrast to the aged exterior of the box.
This is a profoundly meaningful object for collectors of Japanese Buddhist art, lacquerware, and cultural history — an intimate window into centuries of devotional practice within one of Japan's most influential Buddhist traditions.

My Message
Thank you so much for visiting my listing. I run a recycle shop in Japan, and I joined Catawiki because I want to share items filled with Japanese craftsmanship and history with the world. If you have any questions about this item, please feel free to message me anytime. With heartfelt gratitude — ARIGATO.

Size
Height: 21 cm
Width: 25 cm
Depth: 27 cm

Weight
6,065 g

Condition
The lacquer exterior shows significant age-related wear including notable lacquer loss and peeling on the base and lower side panels; all four original foot stands (kodai) on the underside have detached and are missing, consistent with the piece's considerable age. The lid, drawer fronts, and chrysanthemum crest reliefs remain comparatively intact, all five drawers open and close smoothly, and the interior manuscript books are in very good condition.

Artist Profile
Not applicable — maker unknown.

Catawiki出品項目

Category: Japanese Antiques > Boxes & Containers
Title of Artwork: Rare Antique Jodo Shinshu Maki-e Lacquer Ofumi-bako — Imperial Chrysanthemum Crest, 5-Drawer, with Original Manuscripts
Artist: —（作家不明）
Colour: Black
Condition: Fair condition – heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing
Height: 21 cm
Width: 25 cm
Depth: 27 cm
Weight: 6065 g

My Message
Thank you so much for visiting my listing. I run a recycle shop in Japan, and I joined Catawiki because I want to share items filled with Japanese craftsmanship and history with the world. If you have any questions about this item, please feel free to message me anytime. With heartfelt gratitude — ARIGATO.