Japanese
The Seven Lucky Gods
A group of seven gods of good fortune who sail on a treasure ship at New Year in Japan.
The Seven Lucky Gods, or Shichifukujin, are a group of gods of good fortune in Japan. They are Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin and Hotei, and together they are said to bring happiness, fair work and long life. They are drawn from several traditions, including Shinto, Buddhism, Hinduism and Chinese belief.
Ebisu is the god of fishermen and honest work, shown smiling with a fishing rod and a sea bream. In some tellings he is hard of hearing, so visitors knock on the shrine to get his attention. Pictures of the seven on their treasure ship are often placed under the pillow at New Year for a good first dream. Daikokuten (or Daikoku) carries a never-empty sack and a magic mallet, and Hotei is the round, laughing god who loves children.