A Japanese wooden Ema (絵馬) votive plaque from Meiji Jingū Shrine (明治神宮), one of Tokyo’s most important Shinto shrines.
Dating from 2009 (Heisei 21), the Year of the Ox (己丑), this Ema features a charming illustration of a white mother ox accompanied by her calf, decorated with delicate red plum blossoms (Ume). In Japanese culture, the ox symbolizes patience, diligence, perseverance, and prosperity, while plum blossoms represent resilience, renewal, and the arrival of spring. Together, these elements create an auspicious design celebrating family bonds, good fortune, and new beginnings.
Meiji Jingū (明治神宮) was established in 1920 and is dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852–1912) and Empress Shōken (1849–1914), who played significant roles in Japan's modernization during the Meiji era. Located in the heart of Tokyo, the shrine is surrounded by a vast sacred forest of approximately 100,000 trees donated from across Japan. It remains one of Japan's most significant spiritual landmarks, particularly popular for Hatsumōde, the traditional first shrine visit of the New Year.
In Japanese Shinto tradition, Ema are wooden plaques on which visitors write their wishes and prayers before hanging them at shrines as offerings to the deities.
Size: 15 x 9 cm
