Votive plaque with painting of a sacred horse

Japan

1695

Ink and color on cryptomeria wood (sugi)

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Ema, literally “horse pictures, ” are votive plaques commonly found at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples throughout Japan. Worshippers inscribed the ema with prayers or wishes and then donated the plaques to the shrine. In ancient times, Shinto devotees offered horses to the shrines to appease the gods. But by the 12th century, live animal donations were replaced by painted plaques. Gallery G221 Gift of Thomas Murray in honor of Catherine Murray Barnes