Seven Gods of Fortune

The seven fortune gods (七福神, shichi fukujin) in Japan refer to the seven gods of good fortune in Japanese folklore: ; . They are often the subject of netsuke carvings and other representations. Each has a traditional attribute:

1. Ebisu, god of fishers or merchants, often depicted carrying a cod or sea bass.
2. Daikokuten (Daikoku), god of wealth, commerce and trade. Ebisu and Daikoku are often paired and represented as carvings or masks on the walls of small retail shops.
3. Bishamonten, god of warriors.
4. Benzaiten (Benten-sama), goddess of knowledge, art and beauty.
5. Fukurokuju, god of happiness, wealth and longevity.
6. Hotei, the fat and happy god of abundance and good health.
7. Juroujin, god of longevity.

Many Japanese "gods" were transmitted from India to China, and from China to Japan, including the seven (shichi) gods listed above. Another god, Kichijoten, goddess of happiness, is sometimes found depicted along with the seven traditional gods. However, as is often the case in folklore, Japanese Gods sometimes represent different things in different places.

For more on gods in Japanese folklore see: http://www.artelino.com/articles/japanese_gods_and_goddesses.asp