Share This Article The Wall of DreamsWhen you visit a Shinto shrine in Japan, you will inevitably find a large wooden rack overflowing with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of small wooden plaques. Some have beautiful paintings of animals, while others are covered in handwritten text. What is an “Ema”?These wooden plaques are called “Ema” (which translates to “Picture Horse”). In ancient times, wealthy people would donate living, real horses to the gods when making a wish. Because normal people couldn’t afford a horse, they started offering wooden boards with a picture of a horse instead. Write Anything You Want!Today, you can … Continue reading Why Are There Thousands of Wooden Boards at Japanese Shrines? (The “Ema” Wishes)