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 Sagimori Shrine (Saginomori Shrine) in Kyoto. Tiger is painting on this wood plaque as Symbol in Year of Tiger.
Sagimori-jinja Shrine is a shrine, that is located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture.

a pleasant Shinto shrine with towering cypress trees and plum and cherry blossoms in spring.

Turning left here and up the hill is Manshuin Temple, which was founded by Saicho (767-822) and originally stood on Mount Hiei. The Tendai sect temple moved here in 1656 and contains a lovely Japanese rock garden and original teahouses.

https://www.japanvisitor.com/kyoto/kyoto-districts/north-higashiyama

It measures about 16 x 11.2 x 0.6 cm. It is from November 23th in 1997.