When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Antique Meiji Japanese Shinto Prayer Woodblock (Hangi)
An authentic antique Japanese cherry wood (yamazakura) printing block (hangi / han) dating to the late Meiji or early Taishō period (circa 1895–1925).
Unlike decorative souvenir carvings, this is an original religious printing block used to produce Shinto devotional materials.
The large inscription reads:
御祈禱 (Go-kitō)
\"Special Prayer\" or \"Prayer Service.\"
The lower inscription identifies the organization as:
神道修成派 靜岡教會
(Shintō Shūsei-ha – Shizuoka Church/Congregation)
This identifies the block as belonging to the Shizuoka congregation of the Shintō Shūsei-ha sect, giving it documented historical and religious significance.
Hand-carved from dense Japanese cherry wood, the block exhibits crisp calligraphy, deep relief carving, and honest wear from period use. Cherry wood was the traditional material used by Japanese printers because of its fine grain and exceptional durability.
An outstanding example for collectors of:
- Japanese mingei and folk art
- Meiji-period religious artifacts
- Shinto history
- Hangi (woodblock printing)
- Japanese typography and calligraphy
- Temple and shrine ephemera
A scarce surviving printing block with identifiable institutional provenance rather than generic decorative appeal.
Approximate Dimensions
- 12\" long
- 3½\" wide
- ¾\" thick
Please review all photographs as they form part of the description.
