15.00 USD

This is an "Ema". "Ema" are small Wooden Plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the Shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) receive them. They bear various pictures, often of animals or other Shinto imagery, and many have the word gan'i (願意), meaning "wish", written along the side. In ancient times people would donate horses to the shrines for good favor, over time this was transferred to a wooden plaque with a picture of a horse, and later still to the various wooden plaques sold today for the same purpose.

Ema are sold for various wishes. Common reasons for buying a plaque are for success in work or on exams, marital bliss, to have children, and health. Some shrines specialize in certain types of these plaques, and the larger shrines may offer more than one. Sales of ema help support the shrine financially.


********This Ema is from Itakiso Jinja Shrine AKA Santounomiya is located in Wakayama and the god called Itakeru is enshrined in the main building together with the god's sisters, Oo-kayatsu-hime and tsumatsu-hime. Itakeru came down from the heaven to the world where humans live with his father Susano-o (one of the three great deities who Izanagi, the Japan's father god, created; see Izanagi Jingu Shrine ). Susano-o actually brought seeds of various plants and he asked Itakeru to sow the seeds throughout Japan.


13.6 x 9 x 0.7cm

On back

Right Side - 紀伊國 - Kii Province - (紀伊国 Kii no Kuni), or Kishū (紀州), was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is today Wakayama Prefecture, as well as the southern part of Mie Prefecture. Kii bordered Ise, Izumi, Kawachi, Shima, and Yamato Provinces. The Kii Peninsula takes its name from this province.
During the Edo Period, the Kii branch of the Tokugawa clan had its castle at Wakayama. Its former ichinomiya shrine was Hinokuma Shrine.
The Japanese bookshop chain Kinokuniya derives its name from the province.

Left Side - 山東社 - Santousha - Santou Shrine



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