Design Atlas
한국어
▞ Patterns & textiles

Shippō (seven treasures)

칠보무늬 (시포)

Same-sized circles overlapping in a grid, where each overlap naturally forms a four-pointed lens shape.

Also known as: 七宝칠보연속원무늬
···
html
<div class="wrap"><svg viewBox="0 0 240 240" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid slice" width="100%" height="100%">
  <defs>
    <pattern id="sp" width="48" height="48" patternUnits="userSpaceOnUse">
      <rect width="48" height="48" fill="#f4ede0"/>
      <g fill="none" stroke="#a8683f" stroke-width="1.6">
        <circle cx="0" cy="0" r="26"/>
        <circle cx="48" cy="0" r="26"/>
        <circle cx="0" cy="48" r="26"/>
        <circle cx="48" cy="48" r="26"/>
        <circle cx="24" cy="24" r="26"/>
      </g>
      <animateTransform attributeName="patternTransform" type="translate" from="0 0" to="-48 -48" dur="15s" repeatCount="indefinite"/>
    </pattern>
  </defs>
  <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="url(#sp)"/>
</svg></div><span class="tag">칠보 · shippō</span>
css
.wrap{position:absolute;inset:0;overflow:hidden}
.tag{position:absolute;left:10px;bottom:8px;padding:3px 9px;border-radius:999px;background:rgba(80,45,20,.82);
  color:#f4ede0;font:600 10px/1.5 ui-monospace,SFMono-Regular,Menlo,monospace;letter-spacing:.03em}

The name "shippō" (seven treasures) refers to seven precious things named in Buddhist scripture; the jewel-like shapes formed where circles overlap are said to be the reason for the name. The underlying geometry of overlapping circles is a near-universal motif that many cultures arrived at independently, but this specific name and its use on kimono and on shippō-yaki (cloisonné enamelware) trace to Edo-period Japanese decorative arts. Korean shares the same hanja for chilbo (칠보), used for cloisonné enamel craft.

The structure is simple: arrange same-sized circles on a grid, with a radius large enough that each circle passes close to its neighbours' centres. Wherever four circles meet, a four-pointed lens (vesica) shape appears on its own, and the gaps left between the circles form a curved, four-petalled flower shape.

In SVG, circles of equal radius — stroke only, no fill — sit at each corner and the centre of a <pattern> tile. The corner circles get cut off at the tile boundary and reassemble into full circles against neighbouring tiles, the same trick used for seigaiha above.

When to use

Use for Japanese-inspired branding, enamel/ceramic-texture backgrounds, and dense card-background texture.