Seven Gods of Fortune — what they are and how they differ
The Seven Gods of Fortune (七福神) are a team of luck deities from three religions: Shinto, Buddhism, and Taoism. They sail together on the treasure ship takarabune and are especially active in granting luck during the New Year period — according to belief, seeing them in a dream on January 2nd ensures a happy year.
The only truly 'team' unit in Japanese mythology: gods of different origins, different statures, and different religions simply agreed to sail on one ship because selling luck together is more profitable.
What are the Seven Gods of Fortune
| God | Kanji | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Ebisu | 恵比須 | fishing and commerce; the only one of the seven who is a native Japanese god |
| Daikokuten | 大黒天 | wealth and harvest; depicted with a treasure bag on rice bales |
| Bishamonten | 毘沙門天 | warrior's luck; in armor, with a spear and a pagoda in hand |
| Benzaiten | 弁才天 | music, eloquence, water; the only woman among the seven |
| Fukurokuju | 福禄寿 | wisdom and longevity; recognized by his elongated forehead |
| Jurojin | 寿老人 | longevity; an old man with a staff, accompanied by a deer or a crane |
| Hotei | 布袋 | contentment and generosity; a fat, laughing monk with a bag |
Where each of the seven comes from
The group was not formed from a single myth, but as a mixed bag: Ebisu is a native Japanese god, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, and Benzaiten came from Hinduism via Buddhism, and Fukurokuju, Jurojin, and Hotei from Chinese Taoism. The final composition of the seven was fixed only by the 17th century — before that, the list varied.
The character 福 — 'happiness' for all occasions
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 七福神 | shichifukujin · shichifukujin | Seven Gods of Fortune |
| 宝船 | takarabune · takarabune | Treasure ship |
| 初夢 | hatsuyume · hatsuyume | First dream of the year |
| 福 | fuku · fuku | Happiness, luck |
| 縁起がいい | engi ga ii · engi ga ii | Auspicious, good omen |
How 福 is read and where it is written
福 (fuku, 'happiness, luck') is one of the most recognizable characters of New Year symbolism: it is written on door amulets, boxes of sweets, and clothing for matsuri. It appears twice in the names of the gods — in the word 七福神 itself and separately in Fukurokuju (福禄寿).
福 — значение: blessing, luck, wealth — онъёми: フク — 13 штрих(ов). 福 — 'happiness, luck, prosperity': on the left is the altar 示, on the right a vessel with an offering — an ancient image of a gift that brings blessings.
Write 福 along the guides — the most New Year character of the Japanese alphabet of luck.
The Seven Gods and ensemble teams in anime
- Naruto — a team of diverse strong characters with different specializations (Sannin, Akatsuki) structurally repeats the logic of a 'team of seven specialists'.
- Fate/Grand Order — several gods of fortune appear as individual playable spirit guardians.
- New Year special episodes of many anime show cards and figurines of takarabune as part of New Year decorations.
- Hotei's design — a fat, laughing character with a bag — is recognizably quoted in the design of good-natured giants and merchants.
FAQ
- How many gods of fortune are there in total?
- Exactly seven — Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, and Hotei. The number and composition were finally fixed by the 17th century, although the gods come from three different religions.
- Who is the most famous?
- Ebisu and Daikokuten — their figurines are most often found in shops and restaurants as a symbol of luck in business. Ebisu is also the only one of the seven who is a native Japanese god.
- How is this related to the Japanese language?
- The character 福 ('happiness') is part of New Year visual culture as a whole: it is written on amulets, decorations, and packaging. When you see this sign, you can almost certainly expect a wish for good luck.
- Where should I start?
- Start with Ebisu and Daikokuten — the most recognizable pair, which is most often depicted together. From them it is convenient to move on to the other five and their more exotic, Indian or Chinese origins.
- Where do the Seven Gods of Fortune appear in anime?
- There are few direct adaptations, but New Year episodes of almost any long anime show cards and figurines with the takarabune ship as part of the festive decor.
Sources
Updated: 2026-08-29