Chado (Tea Ceremony) Fukusa (Silk Cloth) Fushin Hyotan (Suspicious Gourd) - With Box - Vermilion "Fushin Hyotan" (Suspicious Gourd) refers to... A design of "hyotan" (gourd) primarily used in the Omotesenke school of tea ceremony, where the character "fushin" (suspicious/doubt) is stylized on the gourd. It embodies the spirit of "mitate" (seeing something as something else) and is considered auspicious. The gourd, a symbol of prosperity and warding off evil, is combined with the tea ceremony's "mitate" spirit (using something for a purpose different from its original use), expressing a fresh aesthetic. Details: Origin: Favored by the 10th generation Omotesenke head, Kyukosai Soshu, the design combines gourds with arabesque patterns, butterflies, and dragonflies. Meaning: Gourd: Symbolizes good fortune (kissho) such as prosperity of descendants due to its many fruits, expanding good luck, and warding off evil by absorbing it. Fushin (Suspicious/Doubt): Relates to the tea ceremony's "mitate" spirit (perceiving something differently from its original form), adding new ideas and interest. Mubyo (No Sickness): There is also a good luck charm that having six gourds (rokubyo) is associated with "mubyo" (no sickness). Usage: Primarily seen as a pattern on fukusa (silk cloth) used in Omotesenke, and used when drinking koicha (thick tea). In other words, "Fushin Hyotan" is not just a gourd pattern, but a design with a special meaning that combines the aesthetic sense of the tea ceremony and auspicious objects. Size: 28cm x 28cm This item came from my parents' home. It is new, but has been stored at home for many years, so please understand that the box is damaged. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to your purchase.