TYPE: God of Luck
ORIGIN: Shinto [Japan]
INFORMATION: The most popular of seven gods of fortune recognized Shintoism and frequently linked with the god Daikoku. He is depicted as a fat, smiling and bearded fisherman holding a fishing rod in one hand and a sea bream in the other. The name does not appear in the classical sacred texts Nihongi and Kojiki, but Ebisu is known to have been worshiped in ancient times among fishermen. From about the sixteenth century his character changed and he became a deity associated with profit. Thus he is a patron of commerce and his picture hangs in most establishments. He is perhaps syncretized with the god Hiroku and Koto-Shiro-Nushi. He may also be identified with Fudo, the god of knowledge. He does not join the rest of the Shinto pantheon int he great October festival at Izumo because he is deaf. His festival is celebrated concurrently in his own temple.