Sleeping Cat Japanese Wood Prayer Board Ema Nemuri Neko of Nikko Shrine, Japan

Description

Sleeping Cat Japanese Wood Prayer Board Ema Nemuri Neko of Nikko Shrine, Japan
This piece measures 4 inches high by 6.25 iches wide at the widest point. Ema, which means a picture of a horse in Japanese, was originally that, a wooden board with a painted picture of a horse. People wrote their wishes and prayers on the Ema and presented it to the shrine or the temple. Although in the beginning people presented actual horses when they made a wish, over the years people came to present pictures of horses instead. Today, Ema with other motifs are often used to make wishes as well.
This piece depicts a wooden carving of sleeping cat (Nemuri-neko) of Nikko Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi Prefecture of Japan. The Toshogu Shrine was built for the first Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa by his grandson, the third Shogun Iyemitsu. It is the mausoleum of Ieyasu who is one of the most important figures in Japanese history, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that lasted for over 250 years until 1867. The Toshogu Shrine is very famous for its colorful and sumptuously decorated buildings that are unlike the typical simple styled built Shinto shrines.
The carving of the curled up sleeping cat among the peonies (Nemuri Neko) is located on the top of Kuguri-mon Gate and it was said to have been carved by the famous temple carpenter Jingoro Hidari (southpaw Jingoro). The cat represents the wish for peace and happiness in the world that acts as a good luck charm as well.
The branded inscription on the piece reads "sacred wood" and "Nikko Toshogu." This piece is made of Japanese Cypress wood and it is considered sacred in Japan used often to construct shrines and many Shinto related items such as charms and Ema like this particular piece.
The inscription on the back of the piece reads "J.T.B Kawaji hot spring Campaign Commemoration" and "Kawaji hot spring Inn Association" in Nikko of Tochigi Prefecture of Japan. JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) corporation is the largest travel agency in Japan and one of the largest travel agencies in the world. This Ema was probably custom made as the promotional gift by the Kawaji hot spring inn association with the collaboration of JTB when they had a tour campaign to attract tourists to the area. The condition is very good and its age is from the 1960's.
The fragrance of the Cypress wood is still present and the thickness of this ema is very unusual (see photo).
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