Japanese creative artwork on Shinto EMA wooden plaques used for sending prayers to the Gods at Okusha Jinja (Shrine) in Togakushi, Japan.

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Wooden plaques known as Ema in Japanese which has a literal meaning of Picture Horse. In Japan Ema wooden plaques can be seen at Shinto temples which Shinto or Buddhist worshipers use to write prayers or wishes on. They are then left hanging at the temple as can be seen in the picture where the spirits or Gods can receive them. The story has it that in ancient times an actual horse would be given as a gift to the Shinto Temple for good favor but as time went on the extravagance also declined and was replaced with a simple picture of a horse on a wooden plaque which can also be purchased with ready made prayers and wishes. Ema are eventually burned at special events during the year.

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Size: 3418px × 5128px
Location: Okusha Shrine, Togakushi, Nagano, Japan
Photo credit: © Antony Ratcliffe / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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