Japan, particularly among other Asian nations, boasts a well-developed indigenous belief system. Uniquely founded on the Shinto faith called “Shintō,” the country erects shrines to deities. Japanese shrines are often symbolized by torii gates, with the iconic red torii gate serving as a representative symbol of Japan.
Shrines in Japan enshrine various deities, including historical figures who have left a significant mark on history. There are even shrines rumored to enshrine figures like Thomas Edison. To learn more about Shinto, you can check the link below:
“Ema: Wooden Plaques for Writing Wishes Found in Japanese Shrines”
When visiting Japanese shrines, one common sight is plaques with writing on them. These are typically wooden plaques, giving an exotic impression to observers. Known as “Ema,” these wooden plaques are where people write down their wishes and hang them.
“Wooden Plaques Depicting Wishes and Offering Drawings”
Ema refers to wooden plaques with illustrations depicting wishes, offered to shrines or temples when making prayers or when wishes have been fulfilled. Long ago, people used to offer actual horses to shrines, but as horses were expensive, wooden, paper, or clay horse-shaped figures gradually replaced the live animals. During the Heian period, the practice of offering drawings of horses entirely replaced the traditional offering of actual horses. Over time, during the Muromachi period, it evolved to include various drawings and writings, extending beyond horses. In modern times, the tradition shifted to writing wishes on ordinary wooden plaques instead of shaped like horses.
“Writing a Variety of Wishes on Ema”
Although times have changed, people continue to live with hopes and dreams. These aspirations are written on Ema and hung at shrines. Unlike in the past, where horse-shaped figures were offered, or drawings of horses were displayed, now, wishes are written on regular wooden plaques and hung.
Even today, when you visit shrines in Japan, you can see Ema adorned with various wishes. In well-known tourist spots, wishes may be written in Japanese, while in some cases, you may find wishes in foreign languages. There have even been instances of wishes written in Korean, such as the phrase “Dokdo is our land.”
Nowadays, as travelers from various countries visit Japan, it has become natural to encounter Ema with wishes written in multiple languages. Exploring such cultural elements during travels can contribute to making the journey more diverse and enriching.