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| Inscribed 'Meiji Jingu (Meiji Shrine)'. This shrine was built in 1920 to enshrine the ghosts of the Meiji Emperor and Empress. Destroyed during WW2, rebuilt in 1958. This is a pre-WW2 cup. |
Shrine cups
The state-sponsored Shinto religion helped drive the war effort and also helped
promulgate the Emperor-as-God ideology. Most of those shrines still exist and are doing
quite well, and many of them still are right-wing. Of course, the most famous right-wing
shrine is Yasukuni Shrine.
Cups from shrines are often difficult to date. Gold plated cups are certainly post-war, but
porcelain and lacquered wood cups were made both before and after World War II. One
way to determine age is quality. Cups made in the 1920s and 30s (when many were
made) are usually better than the post-war cups.
Designs on the cups vary, but the 16-petal Imperial Chrysanthemum is very common.
Also, kamon (crests) are also common because most shrines have a kamon or two.
I'll try to include here cups from the most famous shrines and also the names of the
shrines in kanji.
Shrines are called jinja or jingu in Japanese.
The most common phrase written on cups is 'Sanpai kinen', or 'Visiting the Shrine
Commemorative.' I am not sure, but it seems likely that if one made a nice donation, a cup
would be given as a gift.
Cups from shrines--especially Yasukuni Shrine--are sometimes inscribed 'Holy Cup'.
(Literally 'God Cup')
During the war years the Japanese built some shrines in different countries to spread the
Emperor worship. If one can find a cup from one of these shrines, it would probably be
quite valuable. I have never seen one. Below I have included a photo of a shrine
established in Mukden, Manchuria. I found this in a soldier's photo album.
promulgate the Emperor-as-God ideology. Most of those shrines still exist and are doing
quite well, and many of them still are right-wing. Of course, the most famous right-wing
shrine is Yasukuni Shrine.
Cups from shrines are often difficult to date. Gold plated cups are certainly post-war, but
porcelain and lacquered wood cups were made both before and after World War II. One
way to determine age is quality. Cups made in the 1920s and 30s (when many were
made) are usually better than the post-war cups.
Designs on the cups vary, but the 16-petal Imperial Chrysanthemum is very common.
Also, kamon (crests) are also common because most shrines have a kamon or two.
I'll try to include here cups from the most famous shrines and also the names of the
shrines in kanji.
Shrines are called jinja or jingu in Japanese.
The most common phrase written on cups is 'Sanpai kinen', or 'Visiting the Shrine
Commemorative.' I am not sure, but it seems likely that if one made a nice donation, a cup
would be given as a gift.
Cups from shrines--especially Yasukuni Shrine--are sometimes inscribed 'Holy Cup'.
(Literally 'God Cup')
During the war years the Japanese built some shrines in different countries to spread the
Emperor worship. If one can find a cup from one of these shrines, it would probably be
quite valuable. I have never seen one. Below I have included a photo of a shrine
established in Mukden, Manchuria. I found this in a soldier's photo album.
'Sanpai Kinen'
Visiting the Shrine
Commemorative
Visiting the Shrine
Commemorative
'Ise Jingu'
Ise Shrine
Ise Shrine
Gold plated cup
from Ise Shrine
from Ise Shrine
'Yasukuni Jinja'
Yasukuni Shrine
Yasukuni Shrine
Porcelain cup from Yasukuni
Shrine. Note 'Holy Cup' inscribed
on the box lid.
Shrine. Note 'Holy Cup' inscribed
on the box lid.
'Houten Jingu'
Mukden (present-day Shenyang) Shrine
Mukden (present-day Shenyang) Shrine
| This cup also comes from the Kashihara Shrine, also marked 'Founding of the Empire Pottery.' Looks like a more affordable cup than the nice 3-cup set above. Probably for sale at the shrine during the celebrations. |
| A wonderful and historic sake cup set from Imperial Japan. These are from the famous Kashihara Jingu (Shrine) in Nara Prefecture. This shrine was established in 1890 and is now a popular sight for the right-wing nationalists. These cups were made in 1940, a date set aside by the Japanese government as the Foundation of the Empire day, dating back 2600 years to the mythical Emperor Jimmu. Anyway, in 1940, a nationwide attempt at encouraging the war effort saw celebrations all over the place, and Emperor Hirohito himself attended one of the celebrations at Kashihara Jingu. These cups were made to commemorate that event. The design has large kanji in the bowl, which read, 'The Founding of the Empire, Holy Ground, Kashihara'. Around the rim are little symbols, probably kamon. On the reverses are leaves. Each cup has a different color rim, but the inscriptions are the same. The original cardboard box label reads, 'Founding of the Empire Sake Cups, Kashihara Jingu.' Marked 'Founding of the Empire Pottery' in the bases. |
| Rare shrine cup with the main gate to Nikko Tosho-gu, the shrine where Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined. Click here for the Wikipedia entry. Inscribed 'Nikko Shoumeimon' and on the reverse 'Good Luck for the Military and Long Life, Shrine Visitation Commemorative'. |
| This is a kabuto cup with cherry blossom base. Inscribed 'Sui Shrine, Reform Commemorative, Iwasaki.' Sui means water, and there are many shrines across Japan that honor water and are named the same. It is impossible to tell from which shrine this cup came. |
