Shippō (七宝) Seven Treasures
A single circle is complete in itself. Yet when circles meet, they create something larger.
Inspired by the traditional Shippō pattern found in Sashiko embroidery, this journal celebrates connection, between ideas, people, memories, and moments. Its pages are a place for thoughts that intersect, overlap, and grow into stories of their own.
Interestingly, Shippō (七宝) doesn't literally refer to seven specific geometric circles in the pattern. The name comes from the Buddhist concept of the "Seven Treasures" (Shichihō), precious materials that symbolized spiritual and worldly wealth.
The exact list varies across Buddhist texts and periods, but commonly includes:
- Gold
- Silver
- Lapis Lazuli
- Crystal
- Agate
- Pearl
- Coral
Over time, the interlocking circles of the Shippō pattern came to symbolize treasures that are even more valuable than material wealth:
- Harmony
- Prosperity
- Good relationships
- Continuity
- Abundance
- Interconnectedness
- Infinite expansion
The pattern itself is formed by overlapping circles that continue endlessly beyond the edge of the fabric, which is why it became associated with boundless connections and good fortune.
For Kissa-goi, I am tempted to reinterpret the "Seven Treasures"
- A story worth retelling
- A friend who stays
- A letter kept for years
- An afternoon without hurry
- A book with folded corners
- A craft learned slowly
- A memory that returns unexpectedly