Amuletsthe gallery← amulets.guru
Japan & Korea · c. 300 BCE – today

Ema votive plaques

Meaning

An ema ('horse picture') is a wooden plaque with a picture on one side and a written wish on the other. It began as a substitute for the living horses once given to shrines, which the kami rode.

Intent

Visitors buy an ema, write their wish (exams, love, health, a safe birth, success) and hang it at the shrine for the kami to read. Designs show the zodiac animal of the year or the shrine's symbol.

Significance

Ema are a living record of people's hopes and a popular art form. Large painted ema by famous artists are treasured, and some shrines have special ema halls (emadō).

History

Offering horse images instead of live horses began in the Nara period (8th century), and ema as small wooden plaques became common in the Muromachi and Edo periods.

Making yours
About 15×9 cm pentagonal cedar or pine board with a painted front, blank back and a cord at the top.
Japan & Korea: the tradition

Japanese protective objects are issued by Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples: omamori, ofuda and ema, each for a named purpose and renewed each year, with old ones returned for ritual burning. Engimono (luck objects) such as maneki-neko and daruma dolls grew out of Edo-period popular culture. Ancient magatama link the modern imperial regalia to the Jōmon and Kofun eras. Korea's shamanic tradition produced bujeok paper talismans, and the norigae pendant turned protective charms into women's court jewellery.

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The Votive Tablets of Itsukushima Temple (Itsukushima ema kagami), vol.2The Votive Tablets of Itsukushima Temple (Itsukushima ema kagami), vol.2Japan · c.1832Print from Women Resting in the Votive Picture Hall at AsakusaPrint from Women Resting in the Votive Picture Hall at AsakusaJapan, Edo period (1615–1868) · early 1790sVotive plaque of the actor Bando Mitsugoro III as Sasaki TakatsunaVotive plaque of the actor Bando Mitsugoro III as Sasaki TakatsunaJapan · 18214 Chome Koyasumachi, Hachiōji-shi, Tōkyō-to 192-0904, Japan - panoramio4 Chome Koyasumachi, Hachiōji-shi, Tōkyō-to 192-0904, Japan - panoramioWellcome Historical Medical Museum, Wigmore Street, London: the Chapel of Votive Tablets. Photograph from a negative of 1913.Wellcome Historical Medical Museum, Wigmore Street, London: the Chapel of Votive Tablets. Photograph from a negative of 1913.Votive-Picture Hall of the Shrine at Ikutama (Ikutama Ema-dō)Votive-Picture Hall of the Shrine at Ikutama (Ikutama Ema-dō)Japan · 1860Print from Women Resting in the Votive Picture Hall at AsakusaPrint from Women Resting in the Votive Picture Hall at AsakusaJapan, Edo period (1615–1868) · early 1790sVotive Pictures (Ema), from the series "A Selection of Horses (Uma-zukushi)"Votive Pictures (Ema), from the series "A Selection of Horses (Uma-zukushi)"Japan · 1822Bandai-ji, Ema in The Shape of Breast 001Bandai-ji, Ema in The Shape of Breast 001Wellcome Historical Medical Museum, Wigmore Street, London: the Chapel of Votive Tablets. Photograph from a negative of 1913.Wellcome Historical Medical Museum, Wigmore Street, London: the Chapel of Votive Tablets. Photograph from a negative of 1913.Viewing Votive Plaques at MukojimaViewing Votive Plaques at MukojimaJapan · c. 1785/89DNA×CAT ema at Taipei City MallDNA×CAT ema at Taipei City MallEma Stand beside Rear Door of Shuxin HallEma Stand beside Rear Door of Shuxin HallKTO2212-026 (52598157418)KTO2212-026 (52598157418)Kamakura-gu Shrine @ Kamakura (13921359174)Kamakura-gu Shrine @ Kamakura (13921359174)MichizaneKo1884MichizaneKo1884SAKIKO - The Seven-Five-Three Festival. (49242287806)SAKIKO - The Seven-Five-Three Festival. (49242287806)小絵馬（向かい目 吉田絵馬屋）小絵馬（向かい目 吉田絵馬屋）眠り猫は こちらから ご覧下さい (6382574275)眠り猫は こちらから ご覧下さい (6382574275)須賀神社 絵馬 (5328207632)須賀神社 絵馬 (5328207632)EmaEmaEma hanging at a shrine in Japan 2011 8 (7024870627)Ema hanging at a shrine in Japan 2011 8 (7024870627)Susanoo Subduing Spirits of Disease (須佐之男命厄神退治之図)Susanoo Subduing Spirits of Disease (須佐之男命厄神退治之図)Ema - Shinto shrine prayer cardsEma - Shinto shrine prayer cardsEma plaques in JapanEma plaques in JapanJapan - Fujisan - EmaJapan - Fujisan - EmaMeiji-jingu miko shopMeiji-jingu miko shopSchool SnacksSchool SnacksShimogamo ShrineShimogamo ShrineWishes and Fortunes (6969737658)Wishes and Fortunes (6969737658)旗後天后宮 EA09602000102旗後天后宮 EA09602000102桂米朝の絵馬桂米朝の絵馬ClausesClausesEma by Utagawa Kunitsune (Hibita Jinja Isehara)Ema by Utagawa Kunitsune (Hibita Jinja Isehara)Goo jinja13Goo jinja13KTO2212-027 (52598070095)KTO2212-027 (52598070095)Kami ema, 2022Kami ema, 2022オブチキ盛岡作品展オブチキ盛岡作品展小絵馬（鶏 吉田絵馬屋）小絵馬（鶏 吉田絵馬屋）平成27年2月1日 参拝 (16494700308)平成27年2月1日 参拝 (16494700308)211204 Wake-jinja Wake Okayama pref Japan23s3211204 Wake-jinja Wake Okayama pref Japan23s3211204 Wake-jinja Wake Okayama pref Japan24s3211204 Wake-jinja Wake Okayama pref Japan24s3211204 Wake-jinja Wake Okayama pref Japan32s3211204 Wake-jinja Wake Okayama pref Japan32s3250906 Tomisaki Jinja Katsuura Chiba pref Japan02s3250906 Tomisaki Jinja Katsuura Chiba pref Japan02s3UntitledUntitledA girl at the Hokkaido Shinto Shrine for The Seven-Five-Three Festival visit, Hokkaido; October 2022A girl at the Hokkaido Shinto Shrine for The Seven-Five-Three Festival visit, Hokkaido; October 2022Ema stand of Crossing Void booth 20190122aEma stand of Crossing Void booth 20190122aInari- und Fuchskult Japan EthnMInari- und Fuchskult Japan EthnM小絵馬（向かい天狗 吉田絵馬屋）小絵馬（向かい天狗 吉田絵馬屋）新庄茄苳公許願亭新庄茄苳公許願亭絵馬1405絵馬1405Ema (Japanese prayer boards) at a shrine in JapanEma (Japanese prayer boards) at a shrine in JapanEma in GongjuEma in GongjuHungEmaHungEmaLaika ac Bad Tourists (7472166742)Laika ac Bad Tourists (7472166742)Osaka ema (14331389416)Osaka ema (14331389416)Suwa Taisha EmaSuwa Taisha EmaTYHS ema 2025-01TYHS ema 2025-01Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America EmaTsubaki Grand Shrine of America Emaキングオブチキン001キングオブチキン001

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Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.