|
|
|
|
Shichi 七 = Seven, Fuku 福 = Luck, Jin 神 = God/Deity/Kami
Click any image above to jump to that deity page
INTRO. 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 Shintō tradition. Three are from the Hindu-Buddhist pantheon of India (Daikokuten, Bishamonten, & Benzaiten) and three from Chinese Taoist-Buddhist traditions (Hotei, Jurōjin, & Fukurokuju). In Japan, they travel together on their treasure ship (Takarabune) and visit human ports on New Year’s Eve to dispense happiness to believers. Each deity existed independently before Japan’s “artificial” creation of the group. The origin of the group in unclear -- some say the Muromachi Era (1392-1568), others the 17th century. Today, images of the seven appear with great frequency in Japan. By the 19th century, most major cities had developed special pilgrimage circuits for the seven. These pilgrimages remain well trodden today, but many people now use cars, buses, and trains to move between the sites. Each deity is presented briefly below. Click any deity name for full textual reviews and photos. Why the number seven? Details here.
SEVEN VIRTUES. Says the Flammarion Iconographic Guide <pp. 239 -238>: “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 天海 (who died in 1643 and was posthumously named Jigen Daishi 慈眼大師), who wanted to symbolize the essential virtues of the man of his time for the Shōgun Tokugawa Iemitsu 徳川家光 (1623-1650 AD).” <end quote> The seven virtues are candor, fortune, amiability, magnanimity, popularity, longevity, and dignity. See list below for deity-virtue identifications.
However, says JAANUS: ”These seven auspicious deities are first believed to have been grouped together and given the name ‘shichifuku’ during the Muromachi period. At first, the group’s members were not fixed and Benzaiten became one of the seven somewhat later. The group of seven may derive from the Chinese subject of Seven Sages in a Bamboo Grove (Chikurin Shichiken 竹林七賢) of the Wei and Jin Period (220-420 AD) or from a famous Buddhist term in the Ninnōgyō Sutra 仁王経 given therein as ‘shichinan sokumetsu shichinan sokushou 七難即滅 七難即生 (lit. = seven adversities disappeared and seven fortunes arose). From the 15th century, the Shichifukujin gained in popularity, especially among urban merchants and artisans, as an auspicious omen and motif of good fortune and longevity, and appear in many painted, sculpted and printed examples.” <end quote>
|
Name & Origin
|
Function
|
Associations
|
|
Ebisu 恵比須
Origin = Japan.
Shinto Name: Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami
|
God of Fishermen, Good Forture, Commerce, and Honest Labor. Virtue = Candor, Fair Dealing
|
Holds a fish (tai or sea bream, red snapper), which symbolizes luck and congratulation (Japanese word for happy occasion is omede-tai); fishing rod in right hand; folding fan in other; grants success to people in their chosen occupations; son of Daikoku. Popular among fishing folk, sailors, and people in the food industry.
|
|
Daikokuten 大黒天
Origin = India.
Skt. = Mahakala
Intro to Japan 9th C. AD
|
God of Earth, Agrculture, Farmers, Wealth, Prosperity, Flood Control, The Kitchen. Virtue = Fortune
|
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, who is said to be his son; merged with Shinto deity of good harvests, Okuninushi no Mikoto. Also a member of the TENBU. Popular among farmers, agricultural businesses, & traders.
|
|
Benzaiten 弁財天
Origin = India.
Skt. = Sarasvati
|
Goddess of Music, Fine Arts, Beauty, Eloquence, and Literature. Virtue = Amiability
|
Japanese mandolin, lute, magic jewel, snake, sea dragon. Only female among the seven. Member of the TENBU grouping. Popular among artists, musicians, and writers.
|
|
Hotei 布袋
Origin = China.
Chn. = Putai, Budai
Chinese Sage.
Budaishi (Jp. = Fuudaishiten)
|
God of Contentment and Happiness. Virtue = Magnanimity
|
Bag of food and treasure that never empties; oogi (fan), small children at his feet; supposedly only member of seven based on actual person (although Jurōjin / Fukurokuju might also be based on real person); known as the Laughing Buddha; rubbing his stomach is said to bring good luck; incarnation of Bodhisattva Maitreya (Jp. = Miroku). Popular among bartenders and all classes of people. Among the seven, the best known outside Japan.
|
|
Fukurokuju 福禄寿
Origin = China.
Taoist Hermit Sage
|
God of Wealth, Happiness, Longevity, Verility, and Fertility. Virtue = Popularity
|
Huge elongated head; long white beard, cane with sutra scroll, crane, deer, stag, tortoise (symbols of longevity); scroll said to contain all the wisdom in the world; said to inhabit same body as Jurōjin (the pair are two different manifestations of the same deity); wields power to revive the dead. Popular among watchmakers, athletes, others.
|
|
Jurōjin 寿老人
Origin = China. Identified with Laozi (Jp. = Rōjinseishi), the founder of Chinese Toaism
|
God of Wisdom & Longevity. Virtue = Longevity.
Also spelled Jurojin.
|
Long white beard, knobbly staff with scoll of life attached; tortoise, deer, stag, crane; in same body as Fukurokuju (the pair represent two different manifestations of the same deity); scroll said to hold the secret to longevity; sometimes carries a drinking vessel, as he reportedly loves rice wine (sake). Popular among teachers, professors, and scientists.
|
|
Bishamonten 毘沙門天
Origin = India.
Skt. Vaisravana.
|
God of Treasure, Bringer of Wealth, Defender of the Nation, Scourge of Evil Doers, Healer of Ilness. Virtue = Dignity
|
Wears armor, carries spear and treasure pagoda; centipede is messenger; Vaisravana in Sanskrit; also known as Tamonten (the commander of the Shitenno or Four Heavenly Kings), and a member of the TENBU Popular among soldiers, doctors, and certain Buddhist monestaries; the only member of the Shitenno worshipped independently.
|
|
Santen 三天
Marishiten
Origin = India
|
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, but her worship has been largely supplanted by Benzaiten.
|
|
Sanmen Daikoku
三面大黒天
Origin = Japan
|
In Japan’s Muromachi Era (1392-1568), an esoteric three-headed form of Daikokuten emerged that combined the head’s of Daikokuten, Benzaiten, and Bishamonten. All three are members of the Seven Lucky Gods. This 3-headed version of Daikokuten is is believed to protect the Three Buddhist Treasures (the Buddha, the law, and the community of followers). This iconography is very similar to another kitchen deity named Kōjin-sama. As the three-headed deity, Sanmen Daikoku awards followers with wealth and virtue.
|
|
Important Note: The member’s of the Seven Lucky Gods have varied over time. In the beginning, Benzaiten was not a member of the group. One later grouping included both Kichijōten and Benzaiten, but excluded Fukurokuju. In modern Japan, the group nearly always consists of Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Hotei, Jurōjin, and Fukurokuju.
|
|
|
|
Kamakura Pilgramage to the Seven Lucky Gods
Click here to learn about the seven sites
|
|
Poster image found at Myōryūji Temple 妙隆寺 in Kamakura. The temple also sells shikishi 色紙 with this image.
Myōryūji Temple is the 7th site on the Kamakura Pilgrimage to the 7 Lucky Gods. It honors Jurōjin.
There are two systems for documenting your pilgrimage. One is a rectangular stamping sheet, called a kinen-shikishi, made of very stiff cardboard. You buy this at your first destination (1,000 yen), then hand it to the office for stamping at each successive stop (free).
|
|
|
|
THE 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). This obsession with number seven no doubt reflects the visibility of the seven-star Big Dipper and the seven planets (Sun for Sunday, Moon for Monday, Mars for Tuesday, Mercury for Wednesday, Jupiter for Thursday, Venus for Friday, Saturn for Saturday).
|
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 !
|
|
The mystery of number seven has enraptured the Japanese as well. Ancient Japan was founded around seven districts. In Japanese folklore, there are seven Buddhist 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).
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, children should put, under their 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, but you must not tell anyone about your dream -- if you do, you forfeit its power. If you have a bad dream, you should set your picture adrift in the river or sea to forestall bad luck. I’m not sure why Jan. 2nd is the day for this. <Sources: Chiba Reiko, Kodo Matsunami, and JAANUS.>
|
Drawing of the Treasure Boat.
Kanji in sail says TREASURE 宝.
Kōyaji Temple 高野寺
Takeo City 武雄市, Saga Pref.
Photo this J-Site.
|
|
TREASURE BOAT & TREASURE
The treasure boat (Takarabune 宝船) is laden with treasure (Takara 宝). Says JAANUS: “The Chinese character BAKU 獏, a Chinese imaginary animal thought to devour (i.e. prevent) nightmares, is sometimes found written on the sail. Often auspicious cranes and tortoises are depicted in the sky and the sea. Although the origin of treasure-boat paintings is not clear, one Edo-period record indicates that they were started in the Muromachi period.” <end quote>
- Hat of Invisibility = Kakuregasa 隠れ笠, and Cloak of Invisibility (Lucky Raincoat) = Kakuremino 隠れ蓑. Allows one to perform good deeds without being seen.
- Robe of Feathers = Hagoromo 羽衣. A long loose flowing garment giving one the gift of flight. Attribute of Benzaiten.
- Magic Mallet, Mallet of Good Fortune = Uchide no Kozuchi 打出の小槌. Brings forth money when struck against an object or when shaken. Common attribute of Daikokuten.
- Bag of Fortune = Nunobukuro 布袋 (lit. cloth bag). Includes an inexhaustible cache of treasures, including food and drink. Common attribute of Hotei.
- Never-Empty Purse or Moneybag = Kanabukuro 金袋. Bag of unlimited wealth, prosperity & fortune.
- Key to Divine Treasure House = Kagi 鍵. The treasure house is symbolized by the stupa (pagoda) held by Bishamonten.
- Rolls of Brocade = Orimono 織物. Scarves and clothing were considered treasures in ancient times and used in various rituals. Not sure of its meaning here.
- Scrolls of Wisdom & Longevity = Makimono 巻物. Common attributes of Jurōjin and Fukurokuju, who are said to be two different manifestations of a single deity (the god of wisdom and longevity).
- More details in Chiba Reiko’s book (pp. 9-12).
 RUBBING TRADITION
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.
|
IMAGES OF SEVEN GODS FROM THE BUTSUZŌ-ZU-I
Butsuzō-zu-i 仏像図彙, “Collected Illustrations of Buddhist Images.” Published in 1690 (Genroku 元禄 3). A major Japanese dictionary of Buddhist iconography. Hundreds of pages and drawings, with deities classified into approximately 80 (eighty) categories. Purchase modern-day reprints of the expanded Meiji-period version here (J-site). This version of the seven gods does not include Fukurokuju, who is said to inhabit the same body as Jurōjin. Instead, in his place, we find Kichijōten, goddess of fortune, luck, beauty, and merit. Among some Japanese sects, she was the central devotional deity, given individual status as an object of Buddhist worship, but since the 15th / 16th century, her imagery and attributes have been largely supplanted by the Goddess Benzaiten (now the only female among Japan’s Seven Lucky Deities).
|
|
Benzaiten
|
Kichijōten
|
Hotei
|
|
Bishamonten
|
Daikokuten
|
Jurōjin
|
|
Ebisu
|
|
|
|
SOURCES
- Butsuzō-zu-i 仏像図彙, “Collected Illustrations of Buddhist Images.” Published in 1690 (Genroku 元禄 3). A major Japanese dictionary of Buddhist iconography. Hundreds of pages and drawings, with deities classified into approximately 80 (eighty) categories. Purchase modern-day reprints of the expanded Meiji-period version here (J-site).
- Handbook on Viewing Buddhist Statues 仏像の見方ハンドブック. By Ishii Ayako. A wonderful book. Published 1998. Japanese Language Only. 192 pages; 80 or so color photos. ISBN 4-262-15695-8.
- JAANUS. Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System. A wonderful online dictionary compiled by the late Dr. Mary Neighbour Parent. It covers both Buddhist and Shinto deities in great detail. Over 8,000 entries. Written in English, yet presenting all key terms in Japanese.
- Buddhism (Flammarion Iconographic Guides)
 , by Louis Frederic, Printed in France, ISBN 2-08013-558-9, First published 1995. A highly illustrated volume, with special significance to those studying Japanese Buddhist iconography. Includes many of the myths and legends of mainland Asia as well, but its special strength is in its coverage of the Japanese tradition. Hundreds of accompanying images/photos, both B&W and color.
- Essentials of Buddhist Images: A Comprehensive Guide to Sculpture, Painting, and Symbolism. By Kodo Matsunami. Paperback; first English edition March 2005; published by Omega-Com. Matsunami (born 1933) is a Jōdo-sect 浄土 monk, a professor at Ueno Gakuen University, and chairperson of the Japan Buddhist Federation. He received the government's Medal of Honor (褒章 hōshō), Blue Ribbon, for his achievements in public service. Says Matsunami: “Bishamonten protects from disaster and bodily harm. Daikoku satisfies the desire for food. Benzaiten represents sexual desire. Hotei brings laughter, and Ebisu grants wealth.
- Tobifudo Deity Dictionary. Ryūkozan Shōbō-in Temple 龍光山正寶院 (Tokyo). Tendai Sect.
- The Seven Lucky Gods of Japan
 , by Chiba Reiko. Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1966. Also see UCLA Center for East Asian Studies, Educational Resources from teacher Samantha Wohl, Palms Middle School, Summer 2000. See Wohl’s Materials List (based on Chiba Reiko’s book).
LEARN MORE
Click here for hundreds of Japanese cartoons of the Seven Lucky Gods
Visit our Seven Lucky Gods eStore to purchase online.
|
|
 "Daikoku, Wood, Circa 1412, at Hase Dera in Kamakura")
