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Daikoku
(wood, 1412 AD)
Hase Dera
in Kamakura
The Shichifukujin
are an excellent example of the way Hindu, Buddhist, and Shinto beliefs live side by side in Japan, influencing one another, and even lending each other gods !
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Shichi 七 = Seven, Fuku 福 = Luck, Jin 神 = God/Deity
Click any image above to jump to that deity's page.
Last Update: March 28, 2007
Added Seven Virtures; also Updated Text
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INTRODUCTION. The Shichifukujin 七福神 are an eclectic group of deities from Japan, India, and China. Only one is native to Japan (Ebisu) and Japan's indigenous Shinto tradition. Three are from the Hindu-Buddhist pantheon of India (Daikokuten, Bishamonten, and Benzaiten) and three from Chinese Taoist-Buddhist traditions (Hotei, Juroujin, and Fukurokuju). In Japan, they travel together on their treasure ship (takara bune 宝船) and dispense happiness to believers. Each deity existed independently before Japan's "artificial" creation of the group in the 17th century. Images of the seven appear with great frequency in modern Japan, and the most common ordering is: Ebisu, Daikoku, Benzai, Hotei, Fukurokuju, Juroujin, Bishamonten. Each deity is presented briefly below. Click any deity name for full textual reviews & numerous photos. Click here for photo montage.
SEVEN VIRTUES. Says the Flammarion Iconographic Guide: This popular group of deities recalls "the seven wise men of the bamboo thicket" or the "seven wise men of the wine cup" whose images are popular in China. The Japanese group was artificially created in the 17th century by the monk Tenkai (who died in 1643 and was posthumously named Jigen Daishi), who wanted to symbolize the essential virtues of the man of his time for the Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu (1623-1650 AD). The seven virtues are:
- Candour (Ebisu)
- Fortune (Daikokuten)
- Amiability (Benzaiten)
- Magnanimity (Hotei)
- Popularity (Fukurokuju)
- Longevity (Juroujin)
- Dignity (Bishamonten)
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Name & Origin
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Function
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Associations
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Ebisu
Japan
Shinto Name:
Kotoshiro-
nushi-no-kami
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God of
Fishermen
Good Forture
Commerce, and Honest Labor
Virtue = Candour
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Fish (tai or sea bream, red snapper), which symbolizes luck and congratulation (Japanese word for joyous is omede-tai); fishing rod in right hand; folding fan in other; grants success to people in their chosen occupations; son of Daikoku; could he be considered the Mercury or Hermes of Japan?
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Daikokuten
India
Mahakala
Intro to Japan 9th century AD
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God of Earth
Wealth
Prosperity
Farmers
Flood Control
The Kitchen
Member TENBU
Virtue = Fortune
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God of five cereals; rice bales; treasure sack (bag); magic mallet in right hand; sometimes wears hood; rat (found around food); often shown with Ebisu, his son?; merged with Shinto deity of good harvests, Okuninushi no Mikoto
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Benzaiten
India
Sarasvati
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Goddess of
Music, Fine Arts
Eloquence, Literature
Member TENBU
Virtue = Amiability
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Japanese mandolin, lute,
majic jewel, snake, sea dragon.
Only female among the seven.
Member of the TENBU grouping.
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Hotei
China
Putai
Budai
Maitreya ??
Chinese Sage
Budaishi (Jp. = Fuudaishiten)
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God of
Contentment
and Happiness
Virtue = Magnanimity
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Bag of food and treasure that never empties; oogi (fan), small children at his feet; supposedly only member of seven based on actual person; known as the Laughing Buddha; rubbing his stomach is said to bring good luck; incarnation of Bodhisattva Maitreya (Jp. = Miroku).
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Fukurokuju
China
Taoist Hermit Sage
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God of Wisdom, Longevity, Verility, Fertility
Virtue = Popularity
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Huge elongated head; long white beard, cane with sutra scroll, drinking gourd, crane, deer, stag, tortoise (symbol of longevity); scroll said to contain all the wisdom in the world; said to inhabit same body as Jurojin
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Juroujin
China
Identified with Chinese Sage Laozi (Jp. = Roujinseishi)
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God of Longevity
Virtue = Longevity
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Long white beard, holy staff and scroll, tortoise, deer, stag, crane; in same body as Fukurokuju; scroll said to hold the secret to longevity; sometimes carries a drinking vessel, as he reportedly loves rice wine (sake)
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Bishamonten
India
Tamonten
Shitenno
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God of Treasure
God of War
God of Warriors
Skt. Vaisravana
Member TENBU
Virtue = Dignity
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Wears armor, carries spear and pagoda of treasures; pigeon is messenger; Vaisravana in Sanskrit; also Tamonten, one of the Shitenno and TENBU
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Santen 三天
Marishiten
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In Japan, there is another goddess (of Hindu origin) named Marishiten who is revered as a tutelary deity of the warrior class. In later centuries, she was worshipped as a goddess of wealth and prosperity among merchants. She was counted along with Daikokuten 大黒天 and Benzaiten 弁財天 as one of a trio of "three deities" (Santen 三天) invoked for good fortune during the Edo period. Marishiten is a member of the TENBU group.
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Click here for Pilgramage Route in Kamakura for Lucky Seven
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THE MYSTERIOUS NUMBER SEVEN
The Japanese people appear bewitched by the number seven -- much like the rest of the world. The West, for example, had its seven wonders of the world. Rome, it is said, was built on seven hills. Medieval Christians counted seven deadly sins. In the age of discovery, explorers traveled the seven seas. The modern world revolves around a seven-day week. People still say they are "in seventh heaven" when they are extremely happy (a phrase that originated in Dante's The Divine Comedy).
 The mystery of number seven has enraptured the Japanese as well. Ancient Japan was founded around seven districts. In Japanese folklore, there are seven treasures and seven deities of good luck (the topic of this story). Japanese Buddhists believe people are reincarnated only seven times, and seven weeks of mourning are prescribed following death. The list goes on and on -- the seven ups and eight downs of life, the seven autumn flowers, the seven spring herbs, the seven types of red pepper, the seven transformations, and the popular 7-5-3 festival held each November for children, in which special Shinto rites are performed to formally welcome girls (age 3) and boys (age 5) into the community. Girls (age 7) are welcomed into womanhood and allowed to wear the obi (decorative sash worn with kimono).
Seven's charm can sometimes be traced to early religious and astrological beliefs. But in our modern age of science and reason, the popularity of seven seems baffling and arbitrary.
LOCAL TRADITIONS
On New Year's Eve, the seven enter port together on their takarabune 宝船 treasure ship) to bring happiness to everyone. On the night of January 2nd, tradition says, you should put , under your pillow, a picture of the seven aboard their treasure ship. If you have a lucky dream that night, you will be lucky for the whole year. I'm not sure why Jan. 2nd is the day for this.
 About the Treasure Boat and Its Treasures (Takarazukushi)
Originally this motif (the treasure boat) came from China, but only later did the Japanese add such treasures as the wish-granting jewel, the mallet of good fortune, the robe of invisibility, cloves, and a treasure bag.
 Another equally curious tradition still widely practiced in Japan is that of rubbing Daikoku or Hotei. When visiting temples that enshrine statues of the seven deities, visitors often rub the head / shoulders of Daikoku (the god of wealth and business prosperity). Doing so is said to bring wealth - which rubs off the statue onto the rubber. Photo at right shows life-size wooden Daikoku statue at Hase Dera in Kamakura -- the sign at his feet says "Rubbing Daikoku -- Please Touch"
Also, rubbing the stomach of Hotei is said to bring good luck.
LEARN MORE
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