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 Hokkesan Ichijō-ji Temple. The Hokkesan Ichijō-ji (法華山一乗寺) is a temple of the Tendai sect in Kasai, Hyōgo, Japan. It was established by Emperor Kōtoku's instruction in 650.

The pagoda at Ichijō-ji completed in 1171 is a National Treasure of Japan. The architectural style is wayō (和様) (literally "Japanese style").

Ichijō-ji is temple No. 26 in the Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage.

On the back

There is a poem about this temple.

春は花　夏は橘　秋は菊　いつも妙なる　法の華山

Spring is flower. Summer is mandarin orange. Fall / Autumn is chrysanthemum. It is always beautiful. Hokkesan.



It measures about 13cm x 7.7cm x 6mm.