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Painted Horse Escaping from an Ema

Totoya Hokkei, Kaien Umeaki
1834

A surimono with a Kyoka poem by Kaien Umeaki (1793-1859) and accompanying image by Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850), depicting a painted horse rendered in a spontaneous ink style coming to life and leaping out of an ema, a wooden votive plaque dedicated to temples. Horses were donated to shrines and temples as symbolic mounts for the enshrined deity. For those who could not afford a real horse, a painted plaque depicting one was the next best thing.


The surimono's imagery draws inspiration from the legend of the painted horse plaque by Kano Motonobu at Asakusa Temple in Edo. According to the tale, Motonobu’s skill was so extraordinary that he rendered the horse with such realism that it came to life each night, leaping out of its plaque to graze.


Kaien's poem speaks of an energetic "colt" (young male horse) foraging and galloping under bright blue skies.

Additional information

It is possible that object information will be updated as new research findings are discovered. Please email kentonicollection@gmail.com if you can improve this record.

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