Powerswood Zodiac Strap, Rat (Rat) [ac-g9003]

◇What is the "Zodiac"?

The twelve zodiac signs consist of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
There are various theories, but one popular story is that "familiar animals were assigned to make them easy to remember," and "God had the animals race to see who could gather before him on January 1st, and the types and order of the zodiac animals were determined based on the race."
The details of the race seem to vary slightly depending on the story.
The twelve zodiac signs began to be used in pre-Christian China to represent calendars and other things.
It is said that when animals are assigned to the twelve zodiac signs, each character contains various meanings that wish for happiness.

◇What is a "mouse"?

The rat is said to be the messenger of Daikoku, one of the Seven Lucky Gods.
It is said that a house with rats will be free from disasters, and that they will gather in a safe place when they sense signs of an impending disaster such as a fire or earthquake. Rats are also known to have many offspring, so they are considered a symbol of prosperity for future generations.

◇What is the "Godaisan Dragon Tree (Rokudo Tree)"?

Mount Wutai is one of the world's five major Buddhist holy sites and the top of China's four major Buddhist mountains. It is considered a sacred place for Manjusri Bodhisattva.
It is a honeysuckle tree that originates from the sacred Mount Wutai and has lines that represent the six realms of reincarnation (the three good realms of heaven, humanity, and Asura, and the three evil realms of animals, hungry ghosts, and hell).
The path is also said to be the path where dragons descend, and is considered to be auspicious.
It is not widely available, and for this reason it is a popular gift item locally.

◇What is "Ebony"?

[Powerswood] Ebony
It is a tropical evergreen tree that is widely distributed from South Asia, including India and Sri Lanka, to Africa.
It is said to be one of the three most famous Tang woods, along with rosewood and ironwood.
The material is jet black in color, dense, heavy, and strong, and has been used since ancient times around the world as a wood for carving to make furniture, Buddhist altars, Buddhist implements, musical instruments, and more.
The darker it is, the better it is said to be.

◇What is "Izumo Black Pine Reiwa"?

[A very precious National Arbor Day tree bracelet!]
On April 18, 1971, the 22nd National Tree Planting Festival was held in Shimane Prefecture.
Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun were welcomed and an Izumo black pine was planted.
The National Tree Planting Festival is an important imperial visit for the Imperial Family and is considered one of the "three major imperial visits." At the 1991 tree planting festival, Crown Prince Naruhito (who ascended to the throne as Emperor on May 1, 2019) pruned the Izumo black pine.
At the time, approximately 15,000 people gathered from within and outside the prefecture, and participants in the ceremony planted approximately 19,000 trees.
[Powerful tree, black pine]
Izumo black pine is a tree that grows mainly along the coastline of the San'in region, and is known as an extremely strong tree that continues to produce pine resin even after being cut down.
This is a black pine tree from the mythical world of Izumo, which appears as an important place in the Japanese mythology "Kojiki" and "Nihon Shoki."

◇What is the "Diamond Bodhi Tree"?

Seeds of the Indian jute tree (Jute family, Cordata).
It means "eye of Shiva" in Sanskrit.
It is believed that Lord Shiva is very fond of Akshamala (necklaces) made from this Vajra tree, and he always wears one. The value of the necklace varies depending on the lines engraved on it, and those with one line or thirteen lines are sold at very high prices.