Green Shinto has covered the Toka Ebisu Festival before. It’s the first big festival of the year, taking place on January 10, and particularly popular in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. The event in Kyoto takes place at … Read the rest
Category: Seven Lucky Deities (Page 2 of 2)
Mark Schumacher, compiler of the wonderful onmark A-Z Dictionary of Japanese religions, has produced an authoritative guide to the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin). This labour of love includes the following:
INTRO Page. Explores their development in art and … Read the rest
Daikoku (aka Daikokuten) is one of Japan’s most popular deities. He’s a jolly fellow with a sack of treasure and a mallet. As such, he’s probably the most well-known of the Seven Lucky Gods (shichifukujin). Although he’s … Read the rest
Ebisu (aka Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami) is one of Shinto’s most intriguing characters. One of the Seven Lucky Gods, he carries a sea bream and is the patron deity of fishermen.
In medieval times, Ebisu was identified with Hiruko – the leech child … Read the rest
Yesterday I happened to explore the north-west corner of Kyoto, in which are located three World Heritage Sites, all of which are Buddhist temples in one form or another. The Golden Pavilion is world famous for its exquisite beauty and … Read the rest
The Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin) may be the ultimate in Japan’s syncretic landscape. They pop up anywhere and everywhere, whether Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple. Though the Meiji government tried to sever all forms of syncretism, they failed miserably … Read the rest