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). Page number: 1 2 18 articles extracted from postgresql database. | |
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