Artwork

牡丹に唐獅子図絵馬「奉掛絵馬慶安二年三月廿五日」|Ema (Votive Painting) of Chinese Lion and Peony Tree

牡丹に唐獅子図絵馬「奉掛絵馬慶安二年三月廿五日」|Ema (Votive Painting) of Chinese Lion and Peony Tree is an ink painting. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This ema (votive painting) is a wooden board featuring a Chinese lion and a peony tree, executed in ink and color.

About this work

If you like bold, simple designs, look up *japan* for more paintings like this.

This wooden board shows a snarling lion standing over a peony bush. Bright red and green paint pops against the plain wood.

It’s a *ema*—a Japanese prayer plaque people hung at shrines to ask for help. The lion, a Chinese symbol of power, was probably meant to scare off bad luck. The date, 1649, is carved right into the paint.

If you like bold, simple designs, look up *japan* for more paintings like this.

Overview

This ema (votive painting) is a wooden board featuring a Chinese lion and a peony tree, executed in ink and color. Dated to 1649, it was intended for hanging at a shrine as a prayer plaque.

Subject & Meaning

A snarling lion dominates a peony bush. The lion, a Chinese symbol of power, likely served to ward off bad luck, fulfilling a protective role in the context of the plaque's devotional purpose.

Technique & Style

The design contrasts bold, vibrant red and green paint against the plain wooden background, characteristic of a simple yet striking aesthetic.

History & Provenance

The plaque is dated to the 25th of March, 1649 (Keian 2), with the date carved directly into the paint, providing clear provenance but limited information on its original shrine or donor.

Context

As an ema, this piece would have been hung at a shrine by an individual seeking divine assistance or protection, reflecting a common religious practice in 17th-century Japan.

Artist & collection

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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