Vintage Japanese Buddhist Ihai Shrine: Gold Lacquer metal craft Ancestral Altar 1960s H7.3in/H18.5cm

Sacred Miniature Temple: Black & Gold Buddhist Reliquary - An Intimate Shrine for Ancestral Prayer.

◻︎Item: Vintage Japanese Buddhist Zushi-style Ihai (Shrine/Memorial Tablet)
◻︎Design: Architectural "Four-Door" Temple Style with Removable Roof
◻︎Dimensions: H 7.3" × W 3" × D 2.2" (18.5cm × 7.7cm × 5.5cm)
◻︎Weight: 5.6 oz (159g) 
◻︎Materials: Lacquered Wood, Gold Leaf, and Ornamental Metalwork

Golden Realm:
This intricate shrine is a miniature shrine for enshrining memorial tablets (ihai). Its rich, deep-black lacquer exterior opens onto a breathtaking interior draped in gold leaf. The metal fittings are exquisitely intricate and luxuriously crafted. In Buddhist tradition, this gold leaf represents the "Pure Land," a realm of eternal light and serenity.

Architectural Technique:
Its temple-like shape, with four doors and a removable roof, exudes a spiritual presence from all angles. Inside, thin wooden slabs—traditionally used for engraving names—are now perfect for enshrining sacred wishes, small photographs, or treasured mementos.

Condition and Wabi-Sabi Characteristics:
In excellent vintage condition. This vessel, which was used as a prayer vessel, bears strong traces of its journey. Minor scratches in the lacquer, rust on the metal decorations - these elements do not detract from the vessel's beauty; rather, they add to its heartwarming "Wabi-Sabi" history.