Seven Lucky Gods

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Netsuke depicting the Seven gods of Fortune, on

display at Bern Historical Museum
Part of a series on

Japanese
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Mythic texts

Kojiki
 Nihon Shoki
 Fudoki
 Kujiki
 Kogo Shūi
 Konjaku Monogatarishū
 Nihon Ryōiki

Divinities
 Amaterasu
 Ame-no-Uzume
 Inari
  Izanagi
 Izanami
 Kami
 Myōjin
 Seven Lucky Gods
 Susanoo

Legendary
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 Oni
 Onryō
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 Yōkai
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Mythical and sacred locations

 Mount Hiei
 Mount Fuji
 Izumo
 Ryūgū-jō
 Takamagahara
 Yomi
 Jigoku

Sacred objects
 Amenonuhoko
 Kusanagi
 Tonbogiri
 Three Sacred Treasures
Shintō and Buddhism
 Bon Festival
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 Ema
 Torii
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 Buddhist temples

 v
 t
 e
In Japanese mythology, the Seven Lucky gods or Seven gods of Fortune (七
福神, shichifukujin in Japanese) are believed to grant good luck and are often
represented in netsuke and in artworks. One of the seven (Jurōjin) is said to be
based on a historical figure.

They all began as remote and impersonal gods, but gradually became much
closer canonical figures for certain professions and Japanese arts. During the
course of their history, the mutual influence between gods has created confusion
about which of them was the patron of certain professions. The worship of this
group of gods is also due to the importance of the number seven in Japan,
supposedly a signifier of good luck.[1]

Origin and history[edit]

From left to right: Hotei,

Jurōjin, Fukurokuju, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Daikokuten, Ebisu
It is known that these deities mostly have their origins as ancient gods of fortune
from religions popular in Japan: from Mahayana Buddhism (Benzaiten,
Bishamonten, Daikokuten) which came to Japan from China but originated in
India, and from Chinese Taoism (Fukurokuju, Hotei, Jurojin); except for one
(Ebisu) who has a native Japanese ancestry.

These gods have been recognized as such for over a thousand years. In the
beginning, these gods were worshiped by merchants as the first two (Ebisu and
Daikokuten) were gods of business and trade.

Subsequently, the other classes of Japanese society looked for other gods that
could correspond with their professions: Benzaiten as the patron of the arts,
Fukurokuju as the patron of the sciences, and so on.

In ancient times, these gods were worshipped separately, but this rarely happens
today – only when it is required for the god to act on behalf of the applicant.

The Seven Gods of Fortune started being mentioned as a collective in the year
1420 in Fushimi, in order to imitate the processions of the daimyōs, the feudal
lords of pre-modern Japan.

It is said that the Buddhist priest Tenkai selected these gods after speaking with
the shōgun he served, Iemitsu Tokugawa, at the order of seeking whoever
possessed the perfect virtues: longevity, fortune, popularity, sincerity, kindness,
dignity, and magnanimity.
Shortly after a famous artist of the time, Kano Yasunobu, was ordained to
portray these gods for the first time ever.[1][2]

Description of the Fukujin deities[edit]

Seven Lucky Gods by Hokusai et al.

Ebisu[edit]
Main article: Ebisu (mythology)
From the period of the gods Izanami and Izanagi, Ebisu (恵比寿) is the only
one whose origins are purely Japanese. He is the god of prosperity and wealth in
business, and of plenitude and abundance in crops, cereals and food in general.
He is the patron of fishermen and therefore is represented with fishermen's
costumes such as a typical hat, a fishing rod in his right hand and a fish that can
be either a carp, a hake, a codfish or a sea bass, or any large fish, in general, that
symbolize abundance in meals (such as a feast or banquet). It is now common to
see his figure in restaurants where fish is served in great quantities or in
household kitchens.[1]

Daikokuten[edit]
Main article: Daikokuten
Daikokuten (大黒天) is the god of commerce and prosperity, and he is
sometimes considered the patron of cooks, farmers and bankers, and a protector
of crops. He is also considered a demon hunter − legend says that the god
Daikokuten hung a sacred talisman on the branch of a tree in his garden and, by
using this as a trap, he was able to catch a demon. This god is characterized by
his smile, by his short legs and by the hat on his head. He is usually depicted
with a bag full of valuable objects.[1][2] Daikokuten's popular imagery originated
as a syncretic conflation of the Buddhist death deity Mahākāla with the Shinto
deity Ōkuninushi.[3] The Japanese name Daikoku is a direct translation of the
Sanskrit name Mahākāla which means "Great Blackness". Per the Butsuzōzui
compendium of 1690 (reprinted and expanded in 1796), Daikoku can also
manifest as a female known as Daikokunyo (大黒女, lit. "She of Great
Blackness") or Daikokutennyo (大黒天女, lit. "She of Great Blackness of the
Heavens").[4]
Bishamonten[edit]
Main article: Vaiśravana
Bishamonten's (毘沙門天) origins can be traced back to Hinduism, but he has
been adopted into Japanese culture. He comes from the Hindu god Kubera and
is also known by the name "Vaisravana".

He is the god of fortune in war and battles, also associated with authority and
dignity. He is the protector of those who follow the rules and behave
appropriately. As the patron of fighters, he is represented dressed in armour and
a helmet, carrying a pagoda in his left hand. He also acts as the protector of holy
sites and important places and holds a spear in his right hand to fight against the
evil spirits. He is usually depicted in illustrations with a hoop of fire.

Benzaiten[edit]
Main article: Benzaiten
Benzaiten's (弁才天 or 弁財天) origin is found in Hinduism, as she comes from
the Hindu goddess Saraswati. She is the only female Fukujin in the modern
grouping, and may be named in various ways: Benzaiten (弁才天), Benten (弁
天), Bentensama (弁天様), or Benzaitennyo (弁才天女). When she
was adapted from Buddhism, she was given the attributes of financial fortune,
talent, beauty and music among others. Often, her figure appears with a Torii.
She is represented as a smart, beautiful woman with all the aforementioned
attributes. She carries a biwa, a Japanese traditional lute-like instrument, and is
normally accompanied by a white snake. She is the patron of artists, writers,
dancers, and geisha, among others.[1]

Jurōjin[edit]
Main article: Jurōjin
Considered the incarnation of the southern pole star (南極星 "nankyokusei"),
Juroujin (寿老人) is the god of the elderly and of longevity in Japanese
Buddhist mythology. It is said that the legendary Juroujin is based on a real
person who lived in ancient times. He was approximately 1.82 meters tall with a
very long head. Besides his distinctive skull, he is represented with a long white
beard, riding a deer, and is often also accompanied by a 1500-year-
old crane and a tortoise, as symbols of his affinity with long lives. In addition,
he is usually represented under a peach tree, as the fruit of this tree is
considered, by Chinese Taoism, as able to prolong life. In his hand he holds a
cane and a book or a scroll. The wisdom of the world remains written in its
pages. Jurojin enjoys rice and wine and is a very cheerful figure.[1]

Hotei[edit]
Main article: Budai
Hotei (布袋) is the god of fortune, guardian of children, patron of diviners and
barmen, and also the god of popularity. He is depicted as a fat, smiling, bald
man with a curly moustache. He always appears half-naked, as his clothes are
not wide enough to cover his enormous belly. He blessed the Chinese, and they
nicknamed him "Cho-Tei-Shi" or "Ho-Tei-Shi", which means ‘bag of old
clothes’.

Hotei was a Zen priest, but his appearance and some of his actions were against
their moral code: his appearance made him look like quite a mischievous person
and he had no fixed place to sleep.

He carries a bag on his shoulders which is loaded with fortunes for those who
believe in his virtues. Hotei's traits and virtues are contentment, magnanimity,
and happiness.

Hotei's original Chinese name was Kaishi, and according to legend, he died in
March 916.

The Japanese began to believe in Hotei during the Edo era. The reason why the
Japanese have such great respect for this god comes from a legend that says
that, before Zen Buddhism arrived in Japan, an alternative Buddhist thought
was extended by a priest of dubious aesthetic, who actually was a manifestation
of Miroku. Miroku was the patron of those who could not be saved by the
beliefs of Buddha, and Hotei was later perceived and accepted by the Japanese
as a second Miroku.[1]

Fukurokuju (sometimes omitted)[edit]

Main article: Fukurokuju
The god Fukurokuju (福禄寿) also has his origins in China. It is believed that
he used to be a hermit during the Chinese Song dynasty, distinguished for being
a reincarnation of the Taoist god Hsuan-wu. He is the god of wisdom, luck,
longevity, wealth and happiness. This god receives certain credits, such as being
one of the Chinese philosophers who could live without eating (breatharian).
Moreover, he is the only god who was said to have the ability to resurrect the
dead. Fukurokuju is characterized by the size of his head, being almost as large
as the size of his whole body, and is represented wearing traditional Chinese
costumes. He normally carries a cane in one hand and in the other a scroll with
writings about the world. He is usually accompanied by a turtle, a crow or a
deer, animals that are frequently used in Japan to symbolize a long life. It is also
said that he likes to play chess, and hence is the patron of chess players.[1] The
characteristics of Fukurokuju and Jurōjin overlap as they both trace back to the
Chinese Taoist deity Nánjílǎorén (南极老人), which is why Fukurokuju's
position is sometimes granted instead to the goddess Kichijōten, as in
the Butsuzōzui compendium of 1783.[5]
Kichijōten (sometimes omitted)[edit]
Main article: Kisshōten
Kichijōten (吉祥天), a Fukujin goddess is also known as Kisshōten or
Kisshoutennyo (吉祥天女), and is adapted via Buddhism from
the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. Kisshōten has the traits of beauty, happiness, and
fertility. In the 1783 edition of the Butsuzōzui compendium, Kichijōten
replaces Fukurokuju as one of the Fukujin.[5] Kichijōten's iconography is
distinguished from the other Fukujin goddesses by the Nyoihōju gem (如意宝
珠) in her hand. When Kichijōten replaces Fukurokuju, and Daikoku is regarded
in feminine form,[4] all three of the Hindu Tridevi goddesses are then
represented among the seven Fukujin.

Takarabune[edit]

Ukiyo-e of the lucky gods on

a Takarabune by Utagawa Toyokuni
Main article: Takarabune
During the first three days of the New Year the Seven Lucky Gods are said to
pilot through the heavens the Takarabune or Treasure Ship.[6] A picture of the
ship forms an essential part of traditional Japanese New Year celebrations.[7]

Location of shrines[edit]

 Toka Ebisu Shrine, Fukuoka

 Nanyo – Kanjizai-ji, Shikoku
 Nishinomiya Shrine, Hyogo
 Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, Osaka

Gallery[edit]


The Seven Lucky Gods at Watatsumi Shrine in Tarumi-ku, Kobe

 

The Seven Lucky Gods in a woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

The Seven Lucky Gods, in an 1882 woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Brooklyn Museum - Shibata Zeshin (Japanese, 1807−1891). Seven Gods of

Good Luck, c. 1885

Coloured woodblock print of the Takarabune by Utagawa Hiroshige

See also[edit]

 Japan portal
 Mythology portal

 Fu, Lu, and Shou (福祿壽), three deities of stars from Chinese folk religion,
representing auspiciousness, good life and longevity.
 Eight Immortals, a similar group of Taoist immortals
 He-He Er Xian (和合二仙), Immortals of Harmony and Union, associated
with happy marriages

Notes[edit]
 1. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h Chiba, Reiko (1995). The seven lucky gods of
Japan.
2. ^ Jump up to:a b Roberts, Jeremy (2009). Japanese Mythology A to Z.
3. ^ Roberts, Jeremy (2009). Japanese Mythology A to Z. Infobase
Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 9781438128023.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b "Butsuzōzui (Illustrated Compendium of Buddhist
Images)" (digital photos) (in Japanese). Ehime University Library. 1796.
p. (059.jpg).
5. ^ Jump up to:a b "Butsuzōzui (Illustrated Compendium of Buddhist
Images)" (digital photos) (in Japanese). Ehime University Library. 1796.
p. (077.jpg).
6. ^ Reiko, Chiba (1966). The Seven Lucky Gods of Japan. Charles E.
Tuttle Co. pp. 9–10. OCLC 40117755.
7. ^ "The Treasure Ship". Victoria and Albert Museum. Archived from the
original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-22.

External links[edit]

 Media related to Seven Lucky Gods at Wikimedia Commons

 Information on Japanese deities