SHICHIFUKUJIN - Seven Lucky gods or Seven gods of Fortune - are believed to grant good luck and are often represented in netsuke and in artworks. 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.

 

EBISU - 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. It is now common to see his figure in restaurants where fish is served in great quantities or in household kitchens.

 

DAIKOKUTEN - 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. Daikokuten's popular imagery originated as a syncretic conflation of the Buddhist death deity Mahākāla with the Shinto deity Ōkuninushi. 

 

BISHAMONTEN's 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's 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, Benten, Bentensama, or Benzaitennyo. When she was adapted from Buddhism, she was given the attributes of financial fortune, talent, beauty and music among others. She carries a biwa and is normally accompanied by a white snake. She is the patron of artists, writers, dancers, and geisha, among others.

 

JUROJIN considered the incarnation of the southern pole star, he 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 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.

 

HOTEI - 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. 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 virtue are contentment, magnanimous and happiness. 

 

FUKUROKUJU 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. 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.

BISHAMONTEN - Hagi Temple - famous for the clover flowers that bloom profusely in the precincts in autumn, dates back to the Tenpyo era (735) when Gyoki Bodhisattva built Yakushido in Nakatsu, Osaka, and in the 9th year of the Enpo era, it was rebuilt by the priest Reizen. It was called Tokoin and was moved to its current location in 1919. The principal image is Yakushi Nyorai, created by Gyoki himself, and the statue of Bishamonten, is a work authorized by Emperor Ninko, along with the Wakashi. There is also a flower haiku monument of Masaoka Shiki in the precincts.

 

FUKUROKUJU - Enman-ji Temple - stands on the hill of Minami Hotarugaike, was part of a large temple called Kinzen-ji Temple, which was built in the first year of Tenpyo (729) by the Bodhisattva Gyoki, centering on the nearby Shinmen no Sho. However, it was burnt down due to repeated disasters, and was later rebuilt at its current location, changing to the Zen Soto sect and renaming it Ennenzan Enmanji. On New Year's Eve, the shrine grounds are crowded with people who come to ring the New Year's Eve bell.

 

DAIKOKUTEN - Saikouji Temple - known as the root dojo of the Daisho Kangiten Sacred Site, was opened by En no Gyoja in the first year of Taika (645). It is said that when En no Gyoto, who prayed wholeheartedly for Daisho Kangiten to appear at the waterfall, a great light shone and Kangiten appeared, and it was said to be the first sacred place. There is a legend that En no Gyoja prayed to Kankiten at that time on the "Fudanseki" that remains in the precincts.

 

BENZAITEN - Takianji Temple - famous as the fundamental dojo of Shugendo, was opened by En no Gyoja in the 4th year of Emperor Saimei (658). En no Gyoja underwent rigorous training under the waterfalls of Minoh, learned the secrets of Shugendo, and mastered the mysteries of Shugendo. It is said that at that time, Benzaiten appeared and assisted in the propagation of the Dharma, so a hall was erected as a token of gratitude and it was named Minoh-dera Temple.

 

EBISU - Kureha Shrine - enshrines Gofuku Hime, the ancestral god of kofuku, is the headquarters of the textile industry. During the reign of Emperor Ojin, the four people who brought kimono, twill weaving, Anehime, and Otokohime from China's Wu province were the first to introduce weaving and dyeing techniques to Japan, and among them, kofuku remained here. The shrine dates back to the year after Emperor Nintoku's death in 385, when a shrine was built to enshrine kofuku, and since ancient times it has been said to have the divine virtue of prospering the family business and improving craftsmanship.

 

JUROJIN - Nakayama-dera Temple - known as the 24th temple of the 33 sacred sites in Saigoku, is an ancient temple founded by Prince Shotoku and is the head temple of the Nakayama-dera sect of the Shingon sect. When the prince was 16 years old, he decided to build a temple on a mountain in the Sanzan where purplish clouds flow, a place related to Princess Onaka, the wife of Emperor Chuai, and built a hall there. We opened Japan's first Kannon sacred place as the principal image. It is also famous as a temple for safe childbirth, and many people come to receive a belly band.

 

HOTEI - Seishoji Temple - known as Kiyokojin, is the head temple of the Shingon Sanpo sect. In the 8th year of Kanpei (896), at the imperial request of Emperor Uda, the temple was founded by Eizan's high priest Seikan, with the Dainichi Nyorai created by Joenpo Gensaku as its principal image. In addition, he enshrined 15 deities, including the Inner and Outer Shrines of Ise and the Kumano Sanzan, and enshrined Sanpoko Shrine as a guardian deity, earning him the title of "Japan's No.1 Pure Kojin". Since then, he has been visited by many pilgrims as the god of stoves and water commerce.

 

 

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