Envelope with symbolic sign noshi
A shūgi bukuro 祝儀袋 envelope, used to send money on festive occasions. The envelope has a mizuhiki string knot printed in the centre and the symbolic ornament noshi 熨斗 printed top right. Noshi is the abbreviation for noshi awabi. Awabi 鮑 (haliotis or abalone) is a prized seafood in Asia and elsewhere. In the Buddhist tradition, no meat was eaten, not even fish and shellfish, but outside the Buddhist tradition, thinly sliced pieces of this shellfish (noshi awabi 熨斗鮑) were attached to important gifts. In modern times, these have been replaced by a piece of yellow fluff wrapped in red and white leaves. Usually one writes the purpose or occasion of the gift and the name of the giver. We can see that this envelope is unused, and on the back is written in pencil the explanation that it is a gift envelope. (CSB)
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