Antique Japanese Happiness Box - Wooden Fuku Masu

Description
Fuku means happiness in Japanese and masu means box. Masu were traditionally used by the Japanese to measure such items as rice, beans or even sake. Fuku masu or happiness boxes are a special type of masu which the Japanese use during the spring festival called Setsubun (Feb 2nd). During the festival, Japanese families scatter soy beans, coins (and sometimes candy for the kids) around their homes in order to drive away unhappy spirits. These boxes are used to carry the soy beans and coins (and candy) during this ritual. The boxes stack one into another for easy storage until next year's spring festival.

About the Listed Item
This antique wooden fuku masu box is in poor condition and is suitable only as a display item. The wood used to make the box is quite deteriorated though the box is still quite firm with tight joints. The condition of the box speaks to its age and past history and altogether creates a very special and eye catching appearance. As a display item this is one of the nicest antique fuku masu we have yet encountered. This item dates from the early Japanese Showa period (1926-1989) or earlier.

Size:
Height: 2.5 inches (6.5 centimeters)
Width: 4.5 inches (11.5 centimeters)
Length: 4.5 inches (11.5 centimeters)
Weight: 6.8 ounces (194 grams)

item code: R1S5-0002789
ship code: G3

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Japan
• fuku
• masu
• luck
• box
• tokaido
• softypapa

[otto5656]

You could put your weed in there.

[vince99percent]

it's so rudimentary it looks like it could've been used for anything. Who would want that, to display?

[000steelandstone000]

FYI

poor condition =/= old

[RobCardIV]

"the item on offer here"

"is a vERy old...."

that right there sums it all up.

ty come again. plz pay more up front.

yes, its square, yes its wood or dirt.

[RobCardIV]

bad condition helps make people believe that its "old" coughcough ^ ^

[kraltran]

fuku

[msmoker37]

Cool! I just made a paper one from my 1 a day origami calender. 3 days were the box- the divider- and the lid.

I filled it with rice.