精霊馬 精霊牛

This is a miniature plastic model of the "Shoryou-uma" (spirit horse) and "Shoryou-ushi" (spirit ox) used as offerings during Japan's Obon festival. Obon is a period when the spirits of deceased loved ones and ancestors are believed to return from the afterlife to this world. The spirit horse represents the desire for the spirits to ride a fast horse when returning to the living world, so they can arrive home quickly. On the other hand, the spirit ox symbolizes the hope that they will take their time returning to the afterlife, gently swaying on the back of a slow-moving ox.