A HANDBOOK FOR TRAVELLERS IN JAPAN (INCLUDING FORMOSA), BY BASIL CHAMBERLAIN,F.R.G.S. AND W.B. MASON, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY AND LATE OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS. WITH THIRTY MAPS AND PLANS AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. NINTH EDITION, REVISED THROUGHOUT. LONDON. JOHN MURRAY, ALLEMARLE STREET. YOKOHAMA, SHANGHAI,- KELLY&WALSH, LIMITED-HONKONG, SINGAPORE.1913
SHICHI FUKUJIN-
ARE
SHICHI FUKUJIN the Seven Gods of Luck namely
1. Ebisu
EBISU one of the Gods of Luck. He is the patron of honest labour. He bears in his hand a fishing rod and a tai fish
2. Dai koku
DAIKOKU is the God of Wealth may be known by his rice bales. The image of Daikoku is very popular in Japanese art, which exhibits little awe of things divine, represents these bales being nibbled at by a rat.
3.Benten
BENTEN or BENZAITEN(please, remember the Empire of the Byzance). Benten is the one of the Seven Deities of Luck. She is often represented riding on a serpent or dragon, whence is perhaps, the sacred character, attributed in many localities to snakes. Benten's shrines are mostly situated on islands.
4. Fukurokuju
FUKUROKUJU is one of the Gods of Luck. He is distinguished by a preter-naturally long head, and typifies longevity and wisdom.
5.Bishamon
BISHAMON (Sanskrit Vâisramana)explained in Eitel's Hand-book of Chinese Buddhism as the God of Wealth. He has been adopted by the Japanese as one of their Seven Gods of Luck, with the special characteristic of impersonating war. Hence he is reprsented as clad in armour, and he is bearing a spear, as well as a toy pagoda.
6. Jurōjin
JUROJIN is one of the Gods of Luck often represented as accompanied by a stag and a crane.
7. Hotei
HOTEL one of the Seven Gods of Luck typifies contentment and good nature He is represented in art with an enormous naked abdomen