Japanese Shrine Wood Plaque Samukawa Shrine Year of the Rabbit
This is an “Ema”. https://www.etsy.com/listing/187590077/japanese-shrine-wood-plaque-samukawa “Ema” are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes. The ema are then left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) receive them. They bear various pictures, often of animals or other Shinto imagery, and many have the word gan’i (願意), meaning “wish”, written along the side. In ancient times people would donate horses to the shrines for good favor, over time this was transferred to a wooden plaque with a picture of a horse, and later still to the various wooden plaques sold today for the same purpose.
Ema are sold for various wishes. Common reasons for buying a plaque are for success in work or on exams, marital bliss, to have children, and health. Some shrines specialize in certain types of these plaques, and the larger shrines may offer more than one. Sales of ema help support the shrine financially.
******** This Ema is from Samukawa Jinja in Sagami prefecture (now called Kanagawa prefecture).
The origin of the Shrine is rather obscure. Ancient records state that way back in the 5th century, Emperor Yuryaku (his date of birth and death unknown) offered a holy tribute, or a wand with hemp and paper streamers, to the Shrine. Emperor Yuryaku was the 21st generation of the imperial family and was on the throne during the 22-year period from 456 through 478.
More evident documents are the comprehensive rule books compiled during the reign of Emperor Daigo (885-930), which had 50 volumes with more than 3,000 articles, and laid down the social code and administrative legislation. Back at the time, Shinto was essential part of politics and the rule books elaborated on ritual code for Shinto, and listed the then existing shrines throughout the country, ranking them in order of importance. The Shrine ranked top of the list in Kanagawa Prefecture, and was called Sagami (old name of Kanagawa) Ichi-no-miya, or the top ranking shrine in Sagami. It meant whenever a new Prefectural governor was assigned, he had to visit the Shrine first of all others. In today’s Japan, there still are many towns with the name of Ichi-no-miya, Ni-no-miya (the second shrine) or San-no-miya (the third one), all of which denote that once there existed a prestigious shrine authorized by the imperial court.
It measures about 15.5 x 9 x 8mm. The red stamp on the front means both “ichinomiya” (top ranking shrine in the prefecture) and “sagami koku shrine” which was the name when the prefecture was known as Sagami.
This is from the 63rd year of the Showa era (=1988) on New Year’s day.
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