This charming Eto Itto-bori (干支一刀彫) Sheep was issued by Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) and dates to Shōwa 54 (昭和54年 / 1979), the year of the Earth Sheep (己未 / Tsuchinoto Hitsuji) in the traditional Japanese zodiac cycle. Created as a New Year talisman, it embodies prayers for peace, harmony, and prosperity in the year ahead.
Kasuga Taisha in Nara, is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines and has long been associated with divine protection, good fortune, and the preservation of classical Japanese culture. The shrine is particularly renowned for its traditional Eto Itto-bori zodiac carvings, which have become treasured collectibles among admirers of Japanese folk art and shrine-issued ornaments.
Hand-carved in the Itto-bori (one-knife carving) tradition, this sheep demonstrates the understated elegance for which Nara woodcarving is celebrated. Crafted from a single block of wood, the figure retains the visible facets of the carving blade, creating a beautiful interplay between geometric form and natural wood grain. The silver-painted ears provide a subtle accent, while the compact, rounded body conveys the gentle and peaceful character traditionally associated with the sheep.
In Japanese zodiac symbolism, the Sheep (Hitsuji) represents harmony, kindness, compassion, and familial happiness. The Earth Sheep year (己未) further emphasizes stability, sincerity, and quiet perseverance. For this reason, sheep zodiac figures have long been cherished as symbols of peaceful relationships, domestic well-being, and steady good fortune.
Presented in its original wooden box, inscribed 「未」 and 「昭和己未」, this vintage Kasuga Taisha carving remains a wonderful example of the shrine’s enduring craftsmanship and spiritual tradition. Both a work of folk art and an auspicious talisman, it reflects the timeless beauty of Japanese zodiac culture and the refined simplicity of Nara’s Itto-bori carving heritage.
Size: 7 x 3 x 5cm
