{"product_id":"an-1840s-woodblock-printed-book-collection-of-ema-from-itsukushima-shrine-miyajima","title":"An 1840s Woodblock Printed Book: Collection of Ema from Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima","description":"\u003cp\u003eTempo era, 1830-1844\u003cbr\u003ewhen closed: 10\" x 7 1\/4\" x 1\/4\", 25.5 cm x 18.5 cm x 1 cm\u003cbr\u003e36 pages\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis old book--probably 180 years old--is hand printed using carved wood blocks. Its cover is missing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt shows the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ema_(Shinto)\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eema \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003ein the collection of the esteemed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Itsukushima_Shrine\"\u003eItsukushima Shrine in Miyajima\u003c\/a\u003e: the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Torii\"\u003e\u003cem\u003etorii\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003eof the shrine is especially notable because it appears to float in the water at high tide. Quoting from Wikipedia:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe most recognizable and celebrated feature of the Itsukushima shrine, is its \u003cspan id=\"mwAQU\" data-mw='{\"parts\":[{\"template\":{\"target\":{\"wt\":\"convert\",\"href\":\".\/Template:Convert\"},\"params\":{\"1\":{\"wt\":\"50\"},\"2\":{\"wt\":\"ft\"},\"3\":{\"wt\":\"m\"},\"4\":{\"wt\":\"0\"},\"adj\":{\"wt\":\"mid\"},\"5\":{\"wt\":\"-tall\"}},\"i\":0}}]}'\u003e50-foot-tall (15\u003c\/span\u003e m) vermilion otorii gate (\"great gate\"), built of decay-resistant \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cinnamomum_camphora\" title=\"Cinnamomum camphora\" class=\"mw-redirect\" id=\"mwAQY\"\u003ecamphor wood\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003csup class=\"mw-ref reference\" id=\"cite_ref-cali-2013a_2-13\" rel=\"dc:references\" data-mw='{\"name\":\"ref\",\"attrs\":{\"name\":\"cali-2013a\"}}'\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e The placement of an additional leg in front of and behind each main pillar identifies the \u003cspan title=\"Japanese-language text\" id=\"mwAQs\" data-mw='{\"parts\":[{\"template\":{\"target\":{\"wt\":\"lang\",\"href\":\".\/Template:Lang\"},\"params\":{\"1\":{\"wt\":\"ja-Latn\"},\"2\":{\"wt\":\"torii\"}},\"i\":0}}]}'\u003etorii\u003c\/span\u003e as reflecting the style of \u003cspan title=\"Japanese-language text\" id=\"mwAQ0\" data-mw='{\"parts\":[{\"template\":{\"target\":{\"wt\":\"lang\",\"href\":\".\/Template:Lang\"},\"params\":{\"1\":{\"wt\":\"ja-Latn\"},\"2\":{\"wt\":\"[[Ryōbu Shintō]]\"}},\"i\":0}}]}'\u003e\u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ry%C5%8Dbu_Shint%C5%8D\" title=\"Ryōbu Shintō\" class=\"mw-redirect\"\u003eRyōbu Shintō\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e (dual Shinto), a medieval school of esoteric \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Japanese_Buddhism\" title=\"Japanese Buddhism\" class=\"mw-redirect\" id=\"mwAQ8\"\u003eJapanese Buddhism\u003c\/a\u003e associated with the \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shingon_Buddhism\" title=\"Shingon Buddhism\" id=\"mwARA\"\u003eShingon Sect\u003c\/a\u003e. The \u003cspan title=\"Japanese-language text\" id=\"mwARE\" data-mw='{\"parts\":[{\"template\":{\"target\":{\"wt\":\"lang\",\"href\":\".\/Template:Lang\"},\"params\":{\"1\":{\"wt\":\"ja-Latn\"},\"2\":{\"wt\":\"torii\"}},\"i\":0}}]}'\u003etorii\u003c\/span\u003e appears to be floating only at high \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tide\" title=\"Tide\" id=\"mwARM\"\u003etide\u003c\/a\u003e. When the tide is low, it is approachable by foot from the island. Gathering \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shellfish\" title=\"Shellfish\" id=\"mwARQ\"\u003eshellfish\u003c\/a\u003e near the gate is popular at low tide. At night, powerful lights on the shore illuminate the structure. The current \u003cspan title=\"Japanese-language text\" id=\"mwARU\" data-mw='{\"parts\":[{\"template\":{\"target\":{\"wt\":\"lang\",\"href\":\".\/Template:Lang\"},\"params\":{\"1\":{\"wt\":\"ja-Latn\"},\"2\":{\"wt\":\"torii\"}},\"i\":0}}]}'\u003etorii\u003c\/span\u003e dates to 1875, although there has been one on that site since 1168.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eema\u003c\/em\u003e pictured in the book--there are seven of them--are more than likely large-scale and not like the small ones or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.srithreads.com\/collections\/various-folk-textiles-and-other\/products\/a-weathered-ko-ema-hand-painted-shinto-votive\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eko ema \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003ethat are often seen hanging outside Shinto shrines.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarge, elaborately painted \u003cem\u003eema \u003c\/em\u003eare also a feature of shrines and were probably offered as a form of donation and ostentation from a wealthy patron.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book is rich in writing, all wood block printed, and its age in combination with the esteemed source of its content make this a desirable thing to own.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecommended.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46097736138938,"sku":null,"price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/files\/Votive53i.jpg?v=1783966589","url":"https:\/\/www.srithreads.com\/products\/an-1840s-woodblock-printed-book-collection-of-ema-from-itsukushima-shrine-miyajima","provider":"Sri","version":"1.0","type":"link"}