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Wise Monkeys Wood Prayer Board Ema See Hear Speak No Evil Nikko Shrine, Japan
Wise Monkeys Wood Prayer Board Ema See Hear Speak No Evil Nikko Shrine, Japan
Wise Monkeys Wood Prayer Board Ema See Hear Speak No Evil Nikko Shrine, Japan
Wise Monkeys Wood Prayer Board Ema See Hear Speak No Evil Nikko Shrine, Japan

Wise Monkeys Wood Prayer Board Ema See Hear Speak No Evil Nikko Shrine, Japan

$ 18.47

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Region of Origin: Japan
  • Condition: Very good condition.
  • Item must be returned within: 60 Days
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
  • Handmade: Yes
  • Type: Votive Prayer Board
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan

    Description

    Wise Monkeys Wood Prayer Board Ema See Hear Speak No Evil Nikko Shrine, Japan
    DETAILS OF ITEM
    This piece measures 4 inches high and 6.25 inches wide at its widest point. Ema, which means a picture of a horse in Japanese, was originally that, a wooden board with a painted picture of a horse. People wrote their wishes and prayers on the Ema and presented it to the shrine or the temple. Although in the beginning people presented actual horses when they made a wish, over the years people came to present pictures of horses instead. Today, Ema with other motifs are often used to make wishes as well.
    This piece depicts the famous wooden carving of the wise monkey trio at Nikko Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi Prefecture of Japan. The Toshogu Shrine was built for the first Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa by his grandson, the third Shogun Iyemitsu. It is the mausoleum of Ieyasu who is one of the most important figures in Japanese history, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that lasted for over 250 years until 1867. The Toshogu Shrine is very famous for its colorful and sumptuously decorated buildings that are unlike the typical simple styled built Shinto shrines.
    The See Hear Speak No Evil Monkey wooden sculpture is a part of a set of 8 transoms that decorate the shrine’s stable where they used to house a sacred white horse. Monkeys are thought to protect the horse from evil. The branded inscription on the piece reads "sacred wood" and "Nikko Toshogu." This piece is made of Japanese Cypress wood and this wood is considered sacred in Japan used often to construct shrines and many Shinto related items such as charms and Ema like this particular piece.
    The inscription on the back of the piece reads "J.T.B Kawaji Hot Spring Campaign Commemoration" and "Kawaji Hot Spring Inn Association" in Nikko of Tochigi Prefecture of Japan. JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) corporation is the largest travel agency in Japan and one of the largest travel agencies in the world. This Ema was probably custom made as a promotional gift by the Kawaji hot spring inn association with the collaboration of JTB when they had a tour campaign to attract tourists to the area. The condition is very good and its age is from the 1960's.
    inkfrog terapeak