japanese traditional ema collection, wild boar rabbit and jizo ema set

Love Japanese Style Like We Do 

A nice collection of three Japanese vintage ema, hand painted on natural pine wood, in a traditional style that is rarely seen these days. Modern ema boards are mass produced and use a silkscreen print for the illustration. These ema are totally handmade, from the cutting of the board to the assembly and hand painting of the amulet’s illustration. 

Ema were originally made to replace the donation of live horses to shrines. Horses were thought to be the animals the gods rode, hence the slanted tops of the plaques, representing the gabled roof of the horse stable. This style was popular in the Meiji Era (1868-1912).

The prayer boards are painted with a wild boar and a rabbit, two of the animals of the Japanese zodiac, and a Jizo Buddha deity. Wild boars are said to be symbols of prosperity and fertility, the rabbit is believed to get rid of bad luck and promote success and the compassionate Jizo is thought to help troubled souls.

Write your prayers and wishes on the back and hang them on the wall for a great Japanese interior accent.

- boar measures 23 cm (9”) wide  x 17 cm (6.7”) tall.
- rabbit measures i22 cm (8.7”) wide x  17 cm (6.7”) tall. 
- jizo measures 14 cm (5.5 “) across x  23 cm (9”) tall. 
- weighs 290 gm.

(listing for three ema)

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- please read our shipping policy. 
- we use recycle packaging wherever possible and wrap for safety, rather than appearance!

ABOUT OUR VINTAGE, ANTIQUE AND OTHER ITEMS
We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.

Information regarding the item and it’s age is obtained from dealers and our personal research. We do our best to give you the correct information but please be aware that we cannot guarantee this information.

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EMA
These votive plaques date to the reign of the Emperor Suinin. It was this ancient leader that instituted the use of haniwa clay figures in lieu of live burials when tombs were built for the wealthy. The horses (shimme) that were previously placed in the grave then came to be gifts to shrines. They were thought to be horses for the gods to ride. It wasn't long before these ‘gift horses’ became more trouble than they were worth. The next logical step was making a replica of these horses and so the wooden ema votive plaque came into being. Ema, literally means picture horse.

The majority of ema were wood plaques, simply fashioned in the shape of a two dimensional gabled roof stable with a prancing steed or two inside. Gradually they came to be painted with animals of the zodiac, good luck images, deities, such as Kannon and Jizo and other specific icons depending on their intended purpose. 

Prayers and wishes are written on the back of the ema and they are left hanging at the shrine, where the gods are believed to receive them. They are then ritually burned at special events, freeing the wish from the writer.

WILD BOAR
The wild boar or inoshishi is prominent in Japanese culture.  It is seen as a fearsome and reckless animal, to such a point that some words and expressions in Japanese refer to wild boars as a way of reference to recklessness. 

The wild boar is the last animal of the oriental zodiac.  People born during the year of the boar are said to show wild boar-like characteristics such as determination and impulsive behavoir. Japanese hunters and mountain people admire the courage and boldness of the wild boar, and they often name their sons after the animal.

Boars are regarded as symbols of fertility and prosperity in some regions.  It is said that boars are attracted to fields owned by families where there are pregnant women present. It is also thought that hunters have more luck hunting wild boars when their wives are pregnant.  

During the Meiji period, the wild boar was included on the 10 yen note and it was often thought that a man could be prosperous by keeping a clump of boar hair in his wallet.

RABBITS
Rabbits are one of the signs of the Japanese Zodiac (eta). They are considered lucky as the Japanese kanji used to write the word rabbit is similar to the kanji meaning, " get rid of ", or, " make vanish". People believe that rabbits will make bad luck disappear! 

Rabbits are also known for jumping high. They can leap over 9 feet! Rabbits symbolize everything going "up" in your life - improvement and success. Some Japanese art even shows rabbits jumping over the moon. And in fact, the Japanese say there is a rabbit in the moon, pounding rice to make rice cakes.

JIZO
Jizo is the Buddha, in the form of an ascetic monk, who guides and aids those living in the present world and throughout the cosmos. Jizo has attained prajna, or enlightenment, but postpones Buddhahood or Nirvana, to help others attain enlightenment and transcend the “wheel of life”. Jizo is said to offer compassion and help to people who truly need it.

Jizo are commonly found in cemeteries and along travel routes. They point you in the right direction in life, or in the afterlife. Jizo statues are well respected and loved by Japan.