{"id":72730,"date":"2020-11-25T18:41:55","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T09:41:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=72730"},"modified":"2020-11-25T18:41:58","modified_gmt":"2020-11-25T09:41:58","slug":"horses-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/horses-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Horses in Japan: From Divine Companions to Cult Objects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Us horse lovers<\/strong> all have something in common. Even on vacation in a foreign country, we feel we can’t survive without sitting high up in the saddle of a horse or at least caressing the soft nostrils of our loyal companions. So then, even in Japan, the question arises: where can we find<\/strong> horses in Japan<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Horses
Horses play an important role in Shintoism, and horse races are very popular in Japan, though horses are still rare in Japan | \u00a9 Mika Senda<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although horses play an important role in Shintoism<\/strong> and horse races are very popular in Japan, horses are rare in Japan. The first indications of domesticated horses in Japan<\/strong> date back to the 5th century during the Kofun Era (300 to 538 AD). These horses’ origins can be traced to the Mongolian mainland<\/strong> and entered Japan via the Korean peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, I would like to trace the history of horses in Japan, their religious significance, and the first horse races in the 11th century. Find out where a unique horseback riding experience awaits you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Divine Horse in Japan: Where to Find Horses in Shintoism<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From time immemorial, horses had a special meaning in Shintoism<\/strong>. They are the animals that transport the souls of the deceased back to this world during Obon season<\/a> (\u201csoul horse,\u201d sh\u014dry\u014d-uma<\/em> \u7cbe\u970a\u99ac). Furthermore, the sun goddess Amaterasu<\/strong> (\u5929\u7167) rides on them, which is why they are also called \u201csacred horse\u201d (shinme, <\/em>\u795e\u99ac) and wooden plaques called Ema<\/strong> (\u201chorse picture,\u201d \u7d75\u99ac), where you can write your wishes to deities, can be traced back to the animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kanda
Kanda Myojin Shrine in centre of Tokyo is one of the shrines that has its own pony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As you can see, Shintoism and horses as sacred animals and means of transport for the deities, are indispensably interwoven. Typically, horses’ images and statues can be found at Shinto shrines, and in a few exceptions, even the living animals. The best example for a living horse on the grounds of a Shinto shrine is the Kanda My\u014djin Shrine<\/strong> (\u795e\u7530\u660e\u795e). Located in Tokyo’s heart, the sacred pony Akari<\/strong>, who is supposed to transport deities, lives on the shrine grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pony
Pony Akari at Kanda Myojin Shrine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ema: The Wooden Pictures of the Sacred Horses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unsurprisingly, to keep a pony or horse at a shrine is not only very difficult, but it is also quite expensive<\/strong>. For this reason, the images and statues of horses<\/strong> were found on shrine grounds in the early times of the Nara era<\/strong> (Nara jidai<\/em>, \u5948\u826f\u6642\u4ee3), from 710 to 794 AD. Around the Kamakura era (Kamakura jidai,<\/em> \u938c\u5009\u6642\u4ee3, 1185-1333), the Buddhist tradition of wooden plaques called Ema<\/strong> was established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n