Shippo (Interlocking Circles)

Shippo translates to “seven treasures” in English, referring to the seven treasures of Buddhism. These treasures include gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, agate, red pearl, and carnelian, which in turn represent the seven powers of faith, perseverance, sense of shame, avoidance of wrongdoing, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. The shippo design, with its eternal chain of interconnected circles, is a pattern of good omens, filled with wishes for happiness, harmony, and karma. This Japanese design dates back to at least the Nara Period (710-794), and has long been a popular pattern for family crests and ceramics, gaining popularity across the centuries in textile use as well.