Commemoration of a Visit to Komagata Shrine Size: Approximately 18cm x 14.5cm The origin of ema (votive plaques) dates back to the Nara period. Originally, it was a custom to offer live horses as offerings to the gods. This practice evolved, and due to the high cost and difficulty of caring for live horses, wooden and ceramic horses were used instead. By the end of the Muromachi period, it spread to the common people, and the current form of ema, with paintings on wooden plaques, became established. Next year is the Year of the Horse. How about those born in the year of Hinoe-Uma? (Hinoe-Uma refers to the combination of the stem "Hinoe" and the branch "Uma" in the Chinese zodiac, which occurs once every 60 years. It is believed to have a passionate and powerful energy due to the overlapping element of fire. In Japan, a superstition spread that "women born in the year of Hinoe-Uma have a fiery temper and shorten their husbands' lives," leading to a decrease in the number of births in past Hinoe-Uma years (especially 1966).) #FolkCraft #Mingei #OldFolkHouse #FolkReligion #Prayer #Dedication #OldTemple #Shrine #BuddhistTemple #Antique #Horse #HorseRacing #GoodLuck