Seven Lucky Gods

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Part of the series on Japanese Mythology

Divinities Kami & Megami, Seven Lucky Gods List of divinities in Japanese mythology
Legendary Creatures & Spirits Dragons, Obake, Yōkai, Yūrei List of legendary creatures in Japanese mythology
Legendary Figures Abe no Seimei, Hidari Jingoro, Kintaro, Kuzunoha, Momotaro, Nezumi Kozo, Tamamo-no-Mae, Tomoe Gozen, Urashima Tarō
Mythical & Sacred Locations Horai, Mt. Hiei, Mt. Fuji, Rashōmon, Ryugu-jo, Suzakumon, Takamagahara, Yomi
Sacred Objects Amenonuhoko, Kusanagi, Tonbogiri Three Sacred Treasures
Writings Konjaju Monogatari, Kwaidan, Otogizoshi, Yotsuya Kaidan
Shinto & Buddhism Bon Festival, Tanabata
Folklorists Kunio Yanagita, Keigo Seki, Lafcadio Hearn, Shigeru Mizuki

The Seven Gods of Fortune (七福神, Shichi Fukujin^?), commonly referred to in English as the Seven Lucky Gods, refer to the seven gods of good fortune in the Shinto religion, Japanese mythology, and folklore. They are often the subject of netsuke carvings and other representations.

Each has a traditional attribute:

Ebisu, god of fishers or merchants, often depicted carrying a cod or sea bass.
Daikokuten (Daikoku), god of wealth, commerce and trade. Ebisu and Daikoku are often paired and represented as carvings or masks on the walls of small retail shops.
Bishamonten, god of warriors.
Benzaiten (Benten-sama), goddess of knowledge, art and beauty.
Fukurokuju, god of happiness, wealth and longevity.
Hotei, the fat and happy god of abundance and good health.
Juroujin (Gama), god of longevity.

From left to right: Hotei, Juroujin, Fukurokuju, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Daikokuten, Ebisu.

Many Japanese "gods" were transmitted from India to China, and from China to Japan, including the seven (shichi) gods listed above. Another god, Kichijoten, goddess of happiness, is sometimes found depicted along with the seven traditional gods. However, as is often the case in folklore, Japanese Gods sometimes represent different things in different places.

The seven gods are often depicted on their ship the Takarabune (宝船）or "Treasure Ship." The tradition holds that the seven gods will arrive in town on the New Year and distribute fantastic gifts to worthy people. Children often receive red envelopes emblazoned with the Takarabune which contain gifts of money around the New Year. The Takarabune and its passengers are often depicted in art in varied locations from the walls of museums to cuddly caricatures.

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[edit] References in Popular Culture

Happy Seven is an anime about a school club consisting of seven girls, having each one a different power of the Seven Gods of Fortune.
The Seven Gods of Fortune appear in the video game Pocky & Rocky 2 for the Super Nintendo.
The main group of villains in the Ranma 1/2 movie call themselves The Seven Lucky Gods Martial Artists.