Wooden ema plaques (絵馬) and the Three Wise Monkeys
Where did ema come from?
Ema (絵馬, literally “picture horse”) are small rectangular wooden plaques found in almost every Shinto and Buddhist temple in Japan. Their history dates back to ancient times.
Originally, horses were offered to the gods as symbols of strength and divine messengers. Over time, real horses were replaced with painted images on wooden boards — hence the name “ema.”
From the Heian period (794–1185) onward, the custom spread throughout Japan, and the plaques began to feature not only horses but also other images related to the intention of the prayer.
Today, ema can be purchased at temples (usually for 500–1000 yen, about USD 3.50–7.00). Worshippers write their wishes on them: for health, success in studies, family safety, happiness in love, or professional achievements.
The finished ema are hung on special racks at the temples so that the deities can “read” the prayers.
What do ema look like?
They usually have a rectangular shape with a gabled top resembling the roof of a shrine.
The front is decorated with an image — a symbol of the deity, the shrine, or a protective motif.
The back remains blank — this is where worshippers write their name, the date, and their wish.
They are hung by a cord, usually red, which emphasizes the protective and ritual character of the plaque.
What are ema associated with?
Ema plaques are an inseparable part of Japanese religion — they connect Shinto and Buddhism in the daily practices of believers.
Shinto shrines offer ema decorated with images of local deities (kami), zodiac animals, or symbols of good fortune.
Buddhist temples use them for prayers for health, longevity, or protection against illness and disasters.
In some places, ema motifs are very local — for example, a shrine dedicated to frogs sells plaques with frogs, while shrines near the sea may feature ema with fish.
The Three Monkeys motif on ema plaques
A particularly interesting example are ema with the motif of the Three Monkeys (三猿, Sambiki Saru) – “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
This motif has its origins in the Japanese Kōshin faith (庚申信仰), which combines elements of Taoism, Shinto, and Buddhism. It was believed that on the Kōshin night (every 60 days) three spirits called Sanshi would leave a person’s body to report his sins to the god Tentei. To prevent this, believers stayed awake all night, and the Three Monkeys became a symbol of moral purity.
At Shitennō-ji Temple in Osaka, there is a special hall called Sansarudō (三猿堂) dedicated to the Three Monkeys, where ema with their image can be purchased.
On these plaques, the monkeys serve a protective role: they are believed to ward off illness and misfortune and to ensure a long and peaceful life.
What does an ema with the Three Monkeys look like?
On the front, the three monkeys appear: 見ざる (mizaru – “see no evil”), 聞かざる (kikazaru – “hear no evil”), 言わざる (iwazaru – “speak no evil”).
They are often accompanied by an inscription related to Kōshin or the name of the shrine (e.g. 四天王寺庚申堂 – Shitennō-ji Kōshin-dō).
Such a plaque usually costs around 1000 yen (~7 USD) and can be purchased at places of Kōshin pilgrimage.
Ema as folk art and collectibles
Ema are not mass-produced. Each shrine commissions them from local painters or craftsmen, which is why they differ in style, colors, and quality of execution. This makes ema a form of folk art, and many people collect them as souvenirs and artistic objects.
Ema in contemporary times
Today, many shrines allow people to purchase ema online or even send their wishes via the Internet. A priest writes the request on the plaque and hangs it on behalf of the worshipper — a practice especially useful for those outside Japan.
Ema also appear in popular culture — in anime, films, and video games we often see characters writing wishes on the plaques during New Year shrine visits (hatsumōde).
Many shrines change the design of ema every year according to the Chinese zodiac. This encourages collectors to return regularly, and the plaques become a kind of calendar of tradition.
Meaning today
Ema with the Three Monkeys are unique because they combine a common votive practice with one of Japan’s most recognizable symbols.
Worshippers write wishes on them for health, protection against illness, and a peaceful life.
Tourists eagerly take them as souvenirs, as they represent a universal symbol of morality and wisdom.
They are a testimony to how an ancient religious motif has become part of popular culture while still preserving its original meaning.
📬 Do you have a photo or story connected with an ema plaque?
We’d love to enrich our collection! If you have a photograph, scan, or an interesting story about ema — especially those with the Three Monkeys motif — please share it with us.
In our gallery, we present various examples of ema. The center and origin of this tradition is Japan, where they have been used for centuries in Shinto and Buddhist temples. Sometimes ema can also be found outside Japan, for example as souvenirs, in museums, or in private collections. Every new contribution helps to make the collection more complete and to better showcase the richness of this extraordinary votive tradition.
📧 Send it to us at: welcome[@]threemonkeys.center
📝 Or use the contact form in the Contact section.
Thank you for every contribution — together we are creating a unique archive of symbols that have accompanied prayers and daily life in Japan for centuries. 🇯🇵❤️
👇 Gallery of Ema plaques – we’re waiting for your photo 🙂 👇
Ema with the Three Monkeys — 四天王寺 庚申堂 (Shitennō-ji Kōshin-dō), Osaka
Origin and context
This plaque comes from Kōshin-dō at Shitennō-ji Temple in Osaka. It is a site dedicated to Kōshin-son, considered one of the main centers of the Kōshin faith in Japan. Within the complex there is also the Sansarudō (“Hall of the Three Monkeys”), where the monkeys serve an apotropaic role — protecting against illness and misfortune (a wordplay on saru = monkey / “to leave”).
Iconography
The plaque depicts the three monkeys — mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru — in red outlines, with a yellow Dharma wheel (Dharmachakra) above them. On the left are inscriptions with the name of the temple “四天王寺” (Shitennō-ji) and “庚申尊” (Kōshin-son).
Meaning
This type of ema (Kōshin ema) expresses the wish that misfortune and illness will “leave” and life will remain peaceful. The Three Monkeys symbolize moral purity and protection against evil.
Ema with the Three Monkeys — Sarutahiko-jinja, Kyoto (山ノ内庚申 / Yamanouchi Kōshin)
Origin and context
This plaque comes from the small Sarutahiko-jinja shrine in the Yamanouchi district of Kyoto, associated with the Kōshin faith and the deity Sarutahiko Ōkami. The Three Monkeys motif has special importance here in local protective and New Year rituals.
Iconography
The plaque shows the three classic monkeys:
🙈 見ざる (mizaru – “see no evil”), 🙉 聞かざる (kikazaru – “hear no evil”), 🙊 言わざる (iwazaru – “speak no evil”).
The central monkey holds a gohei (御幣) — a ritual staff with paper streamers (shide), used in purification and consecration rites.
Inscriptions
京都山之内 (Kyōto Yamanouchi) – “Yamanouchi, Kyoto” (location).
庚申 (Kōshin) – reference to the Kōshin faith.
Red seal (朱印): 神猿神社 (Sarutahiko-jinja).
Meaning
This ema combines the Three Monkeys motif with a priestly element. The monkey holding the gohei symbolizes protective rituals intended to bring health and prosperity to people and domestic animals, especially horses.
Ema with the Three Monkeys motif (mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru).
On the plaque, two inscriptions/seals are visible:
Upper right corner: 庚申 (Kōshin) – reference to the Kōshin faith, closely connected with the Three Monkeys motif. This inscription indicates that it is a typical Kōshin ema, used with prayers for protection against misfortune and illness.
Lower left corner (red seal 朱印): 神猿神社 (Sarutahiko-jinja / “Shrine of the Divine Monkey”) – a typical shrine seal, confirming authenticity and giving the plaque a local identity.
Interpretation: The inscription 庚申 emphasizes the religious link with the Kōshin tradition, while the seal 神猿神社 suggests a connection with a shrine dedicated to monkeys as divine messengers. Together, they form an ema of protective character, asking for health and safety.
ℹ️ Note: the exact origin of this plaque is unknown. If you own a similar ema or have information about its provenance, please contact us — every clue helps expand our knowledge of this example.
Ema with the Three Monkeys — 芝東照宮 (Shiba Tōshōgū), Tokyo (Minato Ward)
This plaque comes from the Shiba Tōshōgū Shrine, located in Shiba Park in Tokyo and dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. It depicts the classic Three Monkeys — 見ざる (mizaru – “see no evil”), 聞かざる (kikazaru – “hear no evil”), 言わざる (iwazaru – “speak no evil”). The stylized figures recall the monkeys of Nikkō, but here they are shown in a calmer, more realistic form.
Two versions of the shrine inscription appear on the plaques, depending on the variant:
芝東照宮 (Shiba Tōshōgū) – the name of the Tokyo shrine (variant found in the seal on ema from Shiba Park).
日光東照宮 (Nikkō Tōshōgū) – the name of the famous shrine in Nikkō (variant referring to the main sanctuary of Tokugawa Ieyasu).
Additionally, on the right side is the inscription 祈福 (kifuku) – “prayer for good fortune.”
This type of ema is offered as a request for protection, health, and happiness. The Three Monkeys motif emphasizes purity of heart and a moral life in harmony with tradition.
Ema with the Three Monkeys — 日光東照宮 (Nikkō Tōshō-gū), Nikkō
This ema plaque with the Three Monkeys motif comes from the famous Tōshōgū Shrine in Nikkō (日光東照宮). On the front are the classic three monkeys — 🙈 mizaru (“see no evil”), 🙉 kikazaru (“hear no evil”), 🙊 iwazaru (“speak no evil”). The motif directly refers to the carving above the stable entrance in the Tōshōgū complex, regarded as the oldest and most famous depiction of the Three Monkeys in Japan.
Two inscriptions appear on the plaque:
日光東照宮 (Nikkō Tōshō-gū) – the name of the shrine, seal in the lower left corner.
御神木 (goshinboku) – literally “sacred tree,” seal in the upper right corner, referring to the sacred significance of the wood used for ema plaques.
This type of ema symbolizes protection against misfortune and reminds of the virtue of moral purity. It was hung with prayers for health, success, and prosperity, combining Shinto tradition with the unique iconography of the Three Monkeys from Nikkō.
Ema with the Three Monkeys — 尾鷲神社 (Owase Jinja), Mie Prefecture
This unique large-format ema (大絵馬) was created and dedicated to Owase Jinja Shrine in Mie Prefecture at the end of 2017 by local high school students.
The plaque measures 91 × 135 cm, made of plywood and painted with water-based paints.
The central motif shows the Three Wise Monkeys — 見ざる (mizaru, see no evil), 言わざる (iwazaru, speak no evil), 聞かざる (kikazaru, hear no evil) — dressed in red vests, giving them a festive and cheerful character.
Above them are auspicious symbols 松竹梅 (pine, bamboo, plum), while on the sides appear the inscriptions: 尾鷲神社 (Owase Jinja) and 開運招福 (“inviting good fortune and happiness”).
At the bottom, the year and the school’s name were added as the donors’ signature.
This ema serves as a New Year’s offering, combining a traditional protective motif with wishes of prosperity and happiness for the local community.
