Foreign gods

Tolerance of manmade deities is just a mask for indifference | Russell Board

Every Japanese souvenir shop carries sets of Shichifukujin, the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, but only one of them—Ebisu, a traditional Shinto deity who carries a fishing rod and serves as guardian of fishing, farming, and commerce—is homegrown.

Three are imports from India: Bishamonten, clad in armor and promising protection; Daikokuten, carrying a mallet and a sack and purportedly providing grain in abundance; and Benzaiten, a female deity who plays the lute and specializes in music and oratory. Three more have their origins in China: obese Hoteison, who represents an actual historical Zen monk; aged Fukurokuju, who with his tall forehead and long white beard offers wealth and long life; and the Gandalf-like Jurojin, who carries a staff and also promotes longevity.

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