'THE SEVEN GODS OF FORTUNE' (七福神)

O New Year's god
this year too
send help!
とし神やことしも御世話下さるる
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶).

As the year draws to a close, images of seven cheerful figures (often riding a treasure laden boat) begin to appear all over Japan.

The Shichifukujin journey in the Takarabune (宝船 'Treasure Ship') to the human realm for the first three days of New Year.

Placing an image of the Takarabune beneath your pillow on January 2nd is said to encourage dreams. If you dream of the boat, the year will be a lucky one.

In this busy twilight period between the old year and the new the 'Seven Gods of Fortune' (七福神) provide a useful service.
As a group they can pretty much answer all your prayers, from health to happiness, from improved business to improved brain capacity.
#Kyoto #Japan #七福神

The Shichifukujin (七福神) is made up of 6 male deities & 1 female: 3 hail from Hinduism (India), 3 from Buddhism and Taoism (China), & 1 from Shinto (Japan).
It is thought that Jurōjin (寿老人) is based on a historical figure, though others too also claim a human origin.
#Japan

1) Benzaiten (弁財天 'music & knowledge')
2) Daikokuten (大黒天 'commerce')
3) Fukurokuju (福禄寿 'happiness & longevity')
4) Ebisu (恵比須神 'abundance')
5) Hotei (布袋尊 'abundance & health')
6) Bishamonten (毘沙門天 'warriors & victory')
7) Jurōjin (寿老人 'long life')
#Japan

In the Muromachi period the idea of celebrating the Seven Gods of Fortune began in Kyōto. It is the oldest of the Shichi Fukujin Mairi (都七福神まいり) pilgrimages.
From Kyōto it spread across Japan.
It is popular to pilgrimage on the New Year & on the 7th of each month.
#京都

PILGRIMAGE TO THE 'SEVEN GODS OF FORTUNE'

Over the centuries the shrines and temples included in the Kyōto Shichi Fukujin Mairi (都七福神まいり) has changed numerous times, but this is the current route.

Let's begin with the only native god on the list, Ebisu (恵比寿).

1) EBISU-JINJA (えびす神社)

Ebisu (恵比寿) is the god of business prosperity, successful crops and abundance. He is patron of fishermen (he's typically depicted in a fisherman costume, with fishing rod & large fish) and workmen, & is possibly the most popular of the 7 gods.

The pilgrimage likely began at Ebisu-jinja, one of the route's oldest sites.

In 1191 Myōan Eisai (明菴栄西), a monk credited with bringing the Rinzai school of Zen (臨済宗) and the tradition of tea-drinking to Japan, was returning from Song China. A great storm struck his boat.

Eisai prayed to Ebisu.
As a massive wave towered above the ship, the god appeared at its base. The wave crashed harmlessly down and the boat was saved.
Ebisu-jinja was founded by Eisai in 1202 to thank the god & act as guardian for Kennin-ji (建仁寺), founded at the same time).

You can find out more about Ebisu-jinja and its famous festival here
https://twitter.com/camelliakyoto/status/1215124207161376773?s=20

#Japan #shichifukujin #七福神 #Ebisu #恵比寿

2) DAIKOKUTEN & MYŌEN-JI (妙圓寺)
Ebisu & Daikokuten (大黒天), thanks to their connection to business success & wealth, are the most popular of the Shichifukujin.

It is thought Myōen-ji was created in 1615 by Nichiei (日英) & the local parishioners of Matsugasaki (松ヶ崎).

Daikokuten (大黒天) has a an extensive CV: he is god of commerce & prosperity, the patron of cooks, farmers and bankers, guardian of crops, and he is also considered to be a demon hunter. Perpetually smiling, he is often shown sitting on bales of rice (representing abundance).

The god is often portrayed holding a golden mallet 'Uchide-no-Kozuchi' (打ち出の小槌). It is called 'Tap-Appear Mallet' because one tap will grant any wish.
The mallet is not exclusive to Daikokuten. It also appears in the tale Issun-bōshi (一寸法師), Japan's 'Tom Thumb'.
#Japan

It is said that Myōen-ji's 90cm tall image of Daikokuten was created by Saichō (最澄 767-822), founder of the Tendai sect.
The statue escaped a fire that consumed the temple in 1969, and has become known as the 'Daikokuten that Emerged from the Flames' (火中出現の大黒天).
#Japan

3) BENZAITEN & ROKUHARAMITSU-JI (六波羅蜜寺)
Benzaiten (弁才天) is the goddess of 'everything that flows': water, time, words, speech, eloquence, music & knowledge.
Evolving from the Hindu deity Saraswati (सरस्वती), she is worshipped as both a Buddhist goddess & Shinto deity.

Patron of artists, writers, dancers, geisha and performers, Benzaiten is commonly depicted as an intelligent and beautiful woman holding a lute (琵琶 'biwa'). She is sometimes accompanied by a white snake.

Here is a previous thread about the goddess
https://twitter.com/camelliakyoto/status/1326315768091324416?s=20

Rokuharamitsu-ji's Benten-dō (六波羅蜜寺/弁天堂) began as Emperor Sutoku's (崇徳天皇 1119-64) 'Goma-dō' (護摩堂).
After the emperor dreamt that Benzaiten (輝く弁天様) came to him, promising to cleanse the world, the monk Zenkai (禅海上人) crafted an image of the goddess.
#Kyoto

In 1156, following the Hōgen Rebellion (保元の乱), the ex-emperor was exiled to Sanuki (he would later become a Tengu, 1 of the Japan's 3 most feared yōkai 日本三大悪妖怪).
In the anti-Buddhist climate of 1868 the statue was moved to Rokuharamitsu-ji to save it.
#Japan #yokai