If the Chinese have a story about the Eight Immortals, then the Japanese also have a very interesting legend about the Seven Lucky Gods.
The Seven Lucky Gods are said to have appeared after the Warring States period (Sengoku jidai, 147701573) to express the people’s wish for peace.
The Seven Gods of Happiness are considered gods close to the people, so they are often associated with things familiar to life such as rice, rice, fish… Legend has it that these 7 Gods of Happiness include:
Ebisu: Deity originating in Japanese Shinto.
God Ebisu often helps fishermen catch smoothly as well as protects people who go to sea safely.
Ebisu has symbols such as snapper (tai), carp (koi), sea perch (Suzuki) and cod (tara).
Daikokuten: This is a god of Indian origin, then introduced to China and then transmitted to Japan.
Bishamonten: Like Daikokuten, this is also a god of Indian origin.
Benzaiten: The only goddess among the Seven Blessed Gods, often holding a pipa (biwa).
Fukurokuju: also known as the God of Fortune and Life.
Jurojin: A god of Chinese origin, said to have lived during the Song Dynasty.
Hotei: Hotei originates from a Zen tang of the Later Liang period, named Khe Ty.
The god Hotei often holds a fan and carries a bag of rice on his shoulder that never runs out.