Description
A miniature Miharu Koma; Wooden Folk Toy Horse of Miharu Village, Fukushima Prefecture. Vintage, ca. 1960's. H.2"(5cm) x L.1.5"(3.75cm). Weight 8 grams. This diminutive folk carving has been in our family collection for some 50+ years, so definitely has some age and character.
Fukushima Prefecture has along history of horse breeding, but the legend behind Miharu Koma (an old word for "horse") goes back to a specific incident during the early Heian Period (794-1185). General Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758-811) was sent by the emperor to conquer and subjugate the Emishi, local inhabitants of the northern region of Honshu. Before leaving Heian-kyo (present day Kyoto), he went to pray at Kiyomizu Temple. There, the priest Enchin was carving a statue of the Buddha, but with some remaining wood he carved 100 horse figures that were gifted to the general as amulets for a successful campaign. Arriving in the northern provinces near Miharu Castle, his troops and horses were exhausted and outnumbered by the Emishi. Mysteriously, 100 fresh horses appeared from the hills and helped Tamuramaro and his forces to quell their enemy. In the morning, the real and wooden horses were gone, save for one wooden horse found covered in sweat. From then on, local villagers continued the practice of carving wooden horses as amulets for raising strong and healthy children, safe childbirth, and just as toys for their children. Farmers eventually used this craft as a side business in the agricultural off-season, and the Miharu Koma has long been a popular souvenir for visitors to the region.