What is this ?

[Butch]

Could anyone help me please ..

i recently picked this up with some WW2 Prayer flags .

i assume its some kind of shrine ?

Would this be WW2 vintage or possibly older?

Many thanks Gareth

[Butch]

Some more pics

[Rich S]

I can't translate it for you, but I believe it is a traveling Buddhist shrine.

[Butch]

Thank you Rich for your comment.

[SteveM]

It's a name: 願主 　永井春一 

 

(Made for) Nagai Shun'ichi 

 

Nagai is the family name (a fairly common name). 

[Butch]

Steve that’s great what age could it possibly be ?

Many thanks Gareth 

[SteveM]

Just judging by the corrosion of the hinges and the gilt lacquer I'd say 100-200 years old. I think its called a zushi (厨子) or zushi-iri. 

I don't know which buddha or bodhisattva this is - usually you can tell by what they are holding or what position the hands are in, but I can't figure it out. Some sort of item made to protect the owner during travels, I guess. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Yes, it's a zushi. The smaller ones were carried when travelling. How large is it?

 

The kura key and the ho-ju were symbols of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, although I would expect to see a fox somewhere too. (I have a tsuba with these two elements of key and ho-ju.)

[Butch]

Gentlemen many thanks for your help and comments ..

The shrine is about 4 1/2 inches high.

Gareth 

[Bugyotsuji]

You often see them in black but I like that colour.