17th Century JAPANESE HAND PAINTING SCROLL AND STAMPED

Description

17th Century JAPANESE HAND PAINTING SCROLL AND STAMPED.
Japanese painting (scroll) early 17th century seven Gods (immortals)
of good fortune. Ink in color on the paper.
These seven auspicious deities are first believed to have been grouped together
and given the name ‘shichifuku’ during the Muromachi period. At first, the group’s members
were not fixed and Benzaiten became one of the seven somewhat later. The group of seven
may derive from the Chinese subject of Seven Sages in a Bamboo Grove 竹林七賢
(Chn. = Zhú Lín Qī Xián; Jp. = Chikurin Shichiken) of the Wei and Jin Period 220-420 AD
or from a famous Buddhist term in the 8th-century Ninnōgyō Sutra 仁王経 given therein
as ‘Shichinan Sokumetsu Shichifuku Sokushō 七難即滅 七福即生 (lit. = seven adversities
disappeared and seven fortunes arose).’ From the 15th century, the Shichifukujin gained
in popularity, especially among urban merchants and artisans, as an auspicious omen
and motif of good fortune and longevity, and appear in many painted, sculpted and printed examples.”
Ebisu
恵比須 Origin = Japan. Shinto Name: Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami
God of the Ocean, Fishing Folk, Good Forture, Honest Labor, Commerce. Virtue = Candor, Fair Dealing
Holds a fish (TAI, sea bream or red snapper), which symbolizes luck and congratulation
(Japanese word for happy occasion is omede-TAI); fishing rod in right hand;
folding fan in other; grants success to people in their chosen occupations; son of Daikoku.
Popular among fishing folk, sailors, and people in the food industry.
Daikoku
came to Japan from China in the 9
th
century, although originally he was an incarnation of Shivain in India, where he protected people against evil forces.
In addition to giving a good harvest to farmers, he is another god who ensures prosperity and wealth in commerce and trade. He is also guardian for cooks and all kitchen workers. People who dream of financial riches tend to worship this god.
Benten
was an
angel
of one of the three major Indian goddesses, Sarasvati, the goddess of fine arts: music, painting, sculpture, dance and literature. These attributes help to soften the vulgarity of monetary wealth, and therefore this goddess is included in the group of seven. Although Sarasvati is a Hindu goddess, Benten came to Japan with Buddhism.
She is the goddess of luck, love, eloquence, education, the arts, science, and patron of students, artists, geishas, and entertainers in the eating-and-drinking business. Her virtues also include happiness, prosperity and longevity. She can protect us from natural disasters and gives wisdom to succeed in battle.
Fukurokuju
is from an old Taoist god, who in turn is based on the old Chinese sage
Lao Tzu
, who had kept archives for the imperial court in the Sung dynasty. He was renowned for performing miracles, particularly in the field of longevity and prosperity. Therefore he is the deity of wisdom, good luck, happiness, wealth, virility and longevity. He is thought to share his body with
Jurojin
.
Fukurokuju's appearance is similar to Jurojin's: He wears a long, flowing Chinese costume, and holds a sturdy walking stick to support himself in his advancing years. On the walking stick is tied a parchment scroll
(makimono)
on which is written sacred teachings and all the wisdom of the world. He usually also carries a folding ceremonial fan
(ogi)
.
The rotund Hotei
is the only member of the shichifukujin based on a mortal; an eccentric Chinese Zen
monk
called Pu-tai and thought to be the reincarnation of Maitreya (miroku Bosatsu), a Buddhist saint.
Hotei, like
Daikoku
, is a god of abundance. He is also the god of laughter and the happiness you can achieve by being satisfied with what you have. He is the god of joy and satisfaction in trade, hence a Hotei statue is often positioned at the entrance of department stores and shopping malls.
He is depicted as a laughing man with a huge belly symbolising his benevolent soul. He carries a ceremonial fan
(ogi)
and a large bag of riches (usually rice) over his shoulder. The supply of rice from his bag is never exhausted so he can afford to be generous; there is always sufficient to feed the hungry. Sometimes he is shown sitting in a cart drawn by a few grateful children who have benefited from Hotei's altruism.
Jurojin
is a Taoist god from China and thought to inhabit the same body as
Fukurokuju
. He is the god of wealth, wisdom and happiness for our long lives.
Jurojin's appearance is similar to Fukurokuju's: a smiling old man dressed as a Chinese sage, long white beard and an elongated bald head. He also has a staff with a scroll
(makimono)
attached, which contains a life study of the world and the secret of longevity. He is sometimes flanked by a stag or deer
(shika)
as his messenger, a tortoise
(kame)
or a crane
(tsuru)
, all of which symbolize longevity.
Bishamon
is a Buddhist deity from India and a protector of the righteous and a symbol of authority. He lives at the earth's core in the fourth layer of Mount Sumeru, protecting the northern quarter and the teaching seat of Buddha. He is one of Buddhism's 'Four Guardians'
(shi-tenno)
and carries a small 'treasure tower' or pagoda
(tahoutou)
in his left hand.
Bishamon is the god of prosperity (symbolised by the 'treasure tower'), the god of war and patron of warriors (symbolised by the defensive armour and offensive weapon). He brings good luck in both battle and defence. He is protector of the Buddhist law and defender of peace. (See also
Crenel Cross
)
The bearded Bishamon is identified as a fierce warrior wearing a full suit of armour, helmet and armed with a sword, spear,
trident
or pike
(hoko)
in his right hand. From the pagoda, he dispenses treasure and good fortune to poor, worthy people. Having given people their riches, he uses his skill to protect them from evil and guard their treasure. However, since he meets few 'worthy' people, he is usually forced to destroy the treasure.