The Seven Gods of Good Fortune
Kanō Hōkyō Shōun
Description
Subject Matter:
The Seven Lucky Gods of Japan, Shichifukujin, 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, Jurōjin, and Fukurokuju).
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. 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.
According to the Japanese legend, they travel in a ship called Takarabune which is filled with treasures and comes from sea to bring fortune and prosperity to everyone. It is said that if you leave a picture of the Shichifukujin below your pillow on the night of the last day of the year, you will be lucky and have good fortune the whole new year.
https://traditionalkyoto.com/culture/figures/the-seven-lucky-gods/
Physical Description:
The seven gods of fortune, some are siting in a book and others are sitting on an island with a tree on a pile of rocks. There is a sun in the background.
Usage Rights:
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.