In the Edo period, praying for practical benefits such as the well-being of the family or prosperity of business became widespread among common people, and it is in the Edo period that people began dedicating small ema as we do today.
江戸時代になると、家内安全や商売繁盛といった実利的な願いをかける風習が庶民にも広まり、今日のように個人が小さな絵馬を奉納する形は江戸時代から始まったものである。