“Flower Garland” with a Man on Horseback

This sacred ornament, known as a [keman], was handed down at Niutsuhime Shrine at the foot of Mount Kōya. Originally, [keman] (“flower garlands”) were made of fresh flowers, but this example is made of wood decorated with a rider in [kariginu], a type of clothing worn by the nobility. Similar to an [ema] — a votive tablet offered to the gods — it was likely dedicated to the shrine in prayer.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.