memo20-05-06

Knowledge about Japan
shrines
Ema

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The Japanese worship the spirits enshrined in Yashiro, but
Another way is to use Ema to say prayers and thanks to the spirits.


Please refer to the illustration below to see how to write Ema.





About the customs of Ema.
In ancient Japan, it was said that spirits would appear on horseback.
For this reason, from the third century onwards, the Japanese offered live horses to spirits, believing that the spirits would appear on the horses and grant their wishes. They believed that the spirit would appear on the horse and grant their wishes.
But not everyone is wealthy enough to get a horse.
Later, they began to offer wooden horses instead of live ones.
From the 9th century onwards, they began to dedicate paintings of horses, and from the 14th century onwards, Ema.

























#Ema