Ema (絵馬, lit. ' picture-horse ') are small wooden plaques, common to Japan, in which Shinto and Buddhist worshippers write prayers or wishes. Ema are left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) are believed to receive them.

Jan 2, 2025 · Japanese Ema are small wooden wishing plaques that you may have seen before in Japanese Shinto shrines. They have been used for centuries to send prayers. Essentially people purchase a small plaque, write their wishes on them, and dedicate them to the gods.

Feb 25, 2025 · Wooden plaques called ema hold deep meaning in Japanese spiritual life. These small, colorful tablets hang in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. They create a lovely display of hopes and dreams.

Jul 23, 2024 · The Role of Ema in Shinto Shrines and Festivals. When you stroll through a Shinto shrine in Japan, one of the first things that might catch your eye is the colorful display of ema, or wooden wish plaques, hanging from racks or trees.

May 21, 2012 · What exactly are “ema”? “Ema” are wooden wishing plaques. This is a Shinto custom and thus can be found at shrines all over Japan. As Buddhism and Shinto have mixed up a lot, it is not unique to shrines. You MIGHT find them in temples, too!

May 18, 2022 · These traditional Shinto plaques are called ema, and shrine visitors dedicate them to make their wishes come true. This article describes the history of ema and how to dedicate these votive plaques at a shrine.

Ema votive plaques are small wooden tablets that play a significant role in Japanese religious and cultural practices. These colorful, rectangular plaques can be found hanging at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples throughout Japan.

Aug 15, 2024 · When you step into a Shinto shrine in Japan, one of the first things that might catch your eye is the colorful display of ema, or wooden wish plaques, hanging in various places. These small, often intricately designed boards serve …

Dec 12, 2014 · Centuries ago, ema evolved within the native belief system known as Shinto, the “Way of the Kami.” However, because of the syncretism that has long characterized Japanese spiritual expression, the Japanese are just as likely to offer their prayers on ema to a Buddhist deity as to a Shinto kami, and sometimes they do

Sep 9, 2019 · Ema are wooden plaques used for writing wishes or prayers to the deity of a Shinto shrine. Hung on special boards, ema can be purchased at shrines and can come in a great variety of shapes, colours and feature many different images.