Votive plaque with the Buddhist deity Yamantaka (Daiitoku Myoo)

 Plaques made of metal or wood and bearing a single image or a group of images are known as kakebotoke (literally “hanging Buddhist image”). Worshipers donated them to temples, where they were hung above the entrance to an image hall, above the rail separating the inner and outer sanctums, or at a shrine for a protector deity.

In the center of this plaque is an image of Yamantaka, one of the Five Radiant Kings worshiped in esoteric Buddhism, who is believed to defeat death, ignorance, and other obstacles to enlightenment. He is depicted with six heads and six arms and legs, seated on a recumbent water buffalo. Originally the arms held symbolic implements. In Japan, Yamantaka is popularly worshiped as the god of agriculture and cows.