Full Description
"Many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan sell small wooden votive tablets (ema) which are meant to be left on a rack at the sanctuary. The reverse of these tablets offers space to send a self-written wish or personal thank you message to the enshrined deity or buddha. Their front usually has a pre-printed or hand-painted design that is indicative of the intended purpose. In this book hundreds of contemporary ema designs for health-related purposes are reproduced and placed into their religious and biomedical context. A final chapter explores why there are differences between these purposes and current epidemiological patterns. This is the first book in English on the long-standing tradition of ema."
Contents
Foreword
Abbreviations
Part one. Introduction
Part two. Health-related images
Part three. Human life
Part four: Illnesses
Part five: Animal health
Part six: Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Index of sanctuaries
Index of designs
