This Ema (絵馬) is a fire-prevention protective talisman (防火護符) issued by Nigatsu-dō (二月堂), part of Tōdai-ji in Nara. Its imagery and purpose are deeply connected to the hall’s most famous annual rite, Omizutori (御水取)—a ceremony centered on fire, water, repentance, and purification that has been performed continuously for over 1,200 years.
During Omizutori, enormous burning torches are carried along the Nigatsu-dō balcony, showering sparks below in a dramatic ritual believed to cleanse sins and protect the faithful. Transforming fire from a destructive force into a sacred agent of purification and protection.
The bold calligraphy 「防火護符」 (“Fire Protection Talisman”) makes its intention explicit: to safeguard homes, buildings, and communities from fire, invoking the disciplined, controlled power of sacred flames witnessed during Omizutori.
Crafted from natural wood and finished with a deep indigo hanging cord, this Ema may be offered at Nigatsu-dō or kept in the home as a protective charm. Rooted in the lived ritual culture of Omizutori, it embodies Nigatsu-dō’s unique spiritual philosophy—acknowledging fire’s danger while calling upon Buddhist devotion to transform it into light, purification, and protection.
