Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: god

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7 fortune gods

七福神
alternative words: Seven fortune gods, 7 gods of good fortune, 7 gods of happiness, 7 fukujin, Shichi fukujin, Shichifukujin
keywords: god
related topics: Muromachi period , New year , Takarabune , Daikoku , Hotei , Bishamonten , Benzaiten
related web sites: http://www.josyuya.com/7fuku/ , http://www.butsuzou.com/jiten/sitifuku.html
explanation: Group of 7 gods who have been worshipped since Muromachi period for divers fortunes that they may bring, i.e. Ebisu (god of fishers or merchants), Daikokuten (god of wealth), Bishamonten (god of warriors, Vai污vana in Sanskrit), Benzaiten (goddess of music, Sarasvati in Sanskrit), Fukurokuju (god of longevity), Hotei (god of abundance), and Kichijoten (goddess of happiness, Srimahadevi in Sanskrit). They are frequently represented together on a ship ("takarabune" or "fortune ship").

Amaterasu

天照大神天照尊
alternative words: Amaterasu omikami, Amaterasu ominokami, Amaterasunomikoto, Amaterasu no mikoto, Goddess Amaterasu, God Amaterasu
keywords: god , mythology , shintoism
related topics: Kojiki , Nihonshoki , Himiko , Yamato dynasty , Izanagi Izanami , Susano , Takamagahara , Shintoism
related web sites: http://www.city.ise.mie.jp
explanation: Sun goddess and the most important god in Japanese mythology. Being born from god Izanagi after the death of Izanami, she has 2 brothers: Sea god, Susano with whom she is in a bad relation and Lunar god, Tsukiyomi. One day, she ordered his son, Ninigi to go down from Takamagahara to the earth on Mt Takachiho and to govern it. He became so the ancestor of Japanese imperial family. There are many shrines which adore her but the most important is Ise shrine.

Benzaiten

弁財天弁才天弁天
alternative words: Benten
keywords: god
related topics: 7 fortune gods
related web sites: http://www.butsuzou.com/jiten/benzai.html , http://www.chikubushima.jp
explanation: Originate from Hindus' river goddess Sarasvati, she has also become a deity of the music and speech by analogy with the river's current. In Japan, she is represented by a woman carrying a lute and confused with Buddhist goddess, Kisshoten or Kichijoten. Being the unique goddess among 7 fortune gods, Benzaiten is widely venerated in many sanctuaries such as at Miyajima, Chikubushima and Enoshima.

Bishamonten

毘沙門天多聞天毘沙門
alternative words: Bishamon ten, Bishamon god, Bishamon, Tamonten
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: 7 fortune gods , Uesugi Kenshin
explanation: One of 4 Buddhism guardians, Shitenno (4 celestial princes) which protect 4 cardinal points. Bishamonten (Vai�ravana in Sanskrit) is responsible of the northern direction and his statue is represented by a fiery figure with a halberd at right hand and a miniature pagoda at left hand. Listening well the teach of Buddha, he is also called Tamonten. In Japan, as a member of 7 fortune gods, Bishamonten was especially venerated by samurai warriors: Uesugi Kenshin used his symbol on the flag.

Bosatsu

菩薩
alternative words: Bodhissatva
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: Kannon , Jizo , Buddhism
explanation: Deity ranked just below a Buddha. In order to save those who are suffering, they prefer to remain on the earth, instead of becoming a Buddha. The most popular Bosatsu in Japan are Kannon and Jiso.

Daikoku

大国大国天
alternative words: Daikokuten, Daikoku ten, Daikukusama, Daikoku sama
keywords: god
related topics: Heian period , Muromachi period , Saicho , Okuninushi , 7 fortune gods
related web sites: http://www.butsuzou.com/daikoku1.html
explanation: Originated from an Indian god of obscurity and wars, Mahakala or Mahakara, he was introduced to Japan by the priest Saicho. During Heian period, he transformed to a god of kitchen and also became synonymous to "priest's wife". During Muromachi period, he was confounded with the shinto god, Okuninushi due to the same Onyomi reading and has become a god of wealth among 7 fortune gods. He is represented by a fat man carrying a huge bag and a miracle wooden hammer (Uchidenokozuchi).

Hotei

布袋
alternative words: Hotei god
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: 7 fortune gods , Zen , Bosatsu
explanation: Eccentric Zen priest of the late Tang dynasty in China. He walked around to collect offering with a huge bag while showing a big belly and slept in the snow. He was considered a reincarnation of Miroku Bosatsu and included among 18 rakan and 7 fortune gods (shichifukujin) as a god of abundance.

Inari

稲荷
keywords: god , shintoism
related topics: Heian period , Edo period
related web sites: http://www.digimake.co.jp/webtown/fushimi/inari/inari.html
explanation: Initially, Inari had been a god of rice culture ("ina" or "ine" means rice) in shinto rite. During a merger of Bouddhism and Shintoism in Heian period, Inari became a messenger of gods, symbolized by the fox. During Edo period, Inari was widely venerated as a protector of merchants. The main shrine of Inari cult is at Fushimi Inari Taisha located in Kyoto city. There exist also many child shrines of Inari cult.

Izanagi Izanami

伊邪那岐・伊邪那美伊邪那岐命伊邪那美命
alternative words: Izanami Izanagi, Izanagi, Izanami, God Izanagi, Godess Izanami, Izanaki, God Izanaki
keywords: god , mythology
related topics: Amaterasu , Susano , Tsukuyomi , Kojiki , Nihonshoki , Oyashima
explanation: The first concrete deity in Japanese mythology. Initially the Earth's surface had been covered with mud. When god Izanagi put his saber into mud and pull out, the drops coagulated themselves to form Onokoro island. There, Izanagi and his wife Izanami made love and gave birth to the 8 Japanese main islands (Oyashima). Then Izanami gave birth to many Japanese gods. When she gave birth a fire god, she died of the burn and became the guard of the Hell. Then Izanagi created Amaterasu, Susano and Tsukuyomi.

Jizo

地蔵地蔵菩薩
alternative words: Jizou, Jizo bosatsu
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: Bosatsu , Kannon , Heian period , Buddhism
explanation: Between the death of the last Buddha (the historical Buddha Sakyamuni), and the birth of the next (Miroku) to come, Jizo remains on the earth to save the people. Usually he is represented by a monk who carries a stick on the left hand and a chaplet on the right. He had been introduced from China to Japan during Heian period. Later, he has been associated with local gods (Dososhin or Dosojin) to become a protector of the children. His Sanskrit name is Ksitigharbha (womb of earth).

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18 articles extracted from postgresql database.