The Seven Patrons Of Happiness
:
Japanese Fairy World
Every child knows who the Shichi fuku Fin or seven Patrons of Happiness
are. They have charge of Long Life, Riches, Daily Food, Contentment,
Talents, Glory, and Love. Their images carved in ivory, wood, stone, or
cast in bronze are found in every house or sold in the stores or are
painted on shop signs or found in picture books. They are a jolly company
and make a happy family. On New Year's eve a picture of the Treasure-ship
(Takare-bune) laden with shipp[=o] (the seven jewels) and all the good
things of life which men most desire is hung up in houses. The ship is
coming into port and the passengers are the seven happy fairies who will
make gifts to the people. These seven jewels are the same as those which
Momotaro brought back from the oni's island.
First there is Fukoruku Jin the patron of Long Life or Length of Days. He
has an enormously high forehead rounded at the top which makes his head
look like a sugar-loaf. It is bald and shiny. A few stray white hairs
sometimes sprout up, and the barber to reach them has to prop a ladder
against his head to climb up and apply his razor. This big head comes
from thinking so much. His eyebrows are cotton-white, and a long snowy
beard falls down over his breast.
Once in a while in a good humor he ties a handkerchief over his high
slippery crown and allows little boys to climb up on top--that is if
they are good and can write well.
When he wants to show how strong and lively he is even though so old, he
lets Daikoku the fat fellow ride on top of his head, while he smokes his
pipe and wades across a river. Daikoku has to hold on tightly or he will
slip down and get a ducking.
Usually the old shiny head is a very solemn gentleman, and walks slowly
along with his staff in one hand while with the other he strokes his long
eyebrows. The tortoise and the crane are always with him, for these are
his pets. Sometimes a stag with hair white with age, walks behind him.
Every body likes Fukoruku Jin because every one wants to get his favor
and live long; until, like a lobster, their backs are bent with age. At a
wedding you will always see a picture of white-bearded and shiny-pated
Fukoruku Jin.
Daikoku is a short chubby fellow with eyes half sunk in fat but twinkling
with fun. He has a flat cap set on his head like the kind which babies
wear, a loose sack over his shoulders, and big boots on his feet. His
throne is two straw bags of rice, and his badge of office is a mallet or
hammer, which makes people rich when he shakes it. The hammer is the
symbol of labor, showing that people may expect to get rich only by hard
work. One end of it is carved to represent the jewel of the ebbing and
the flowing tides, because merchants get rich by commerce on the sea and
must watch the tides. He is often seen holding the arithmetic frame on
which you can count, do sums, subtract, multiply, or divide, by sliding
balls up and down a row of sticks set in a frame, instead of writing
figures. Beside him is a ledger and day-book. His favorite animal is the
rat, which like some rich men's pets, eats or runs away with his wealth.
The great silver-white radish called daikon, two feet long and as big as
a man's calf is always seen near him because it signifies flourishing
prosperity.
He keeps his bag tightly shut, for money easily runs away when the purse
is once opened. He never lets go his hammer, for it is only by constant
care that any one can keep money after he gets it. Even when he frolics
with Fukuroku Jin, and rides on his head, he keeps his hammer ready
swinging at his belt. He has huge lop ears.
Once in a while, when he wishes to take exercise, and Fukuroku Jin wants
to show how frisky he can be, even if he is old, they have a wrestling
match together. Daikoku nearly always beats, because Fukuroku Jin is so
tall that he has to bend down to grip Daikoku, who is fat and short, and
thus he becomes top-heavy. Then Daikoku gets his rival's long head under
his left arm, seizes him over his back by the belt, and throws him over
his shoulder flat on the ground. But if Fukuroku Jin can only get hold of
Daikoku's lop ears, both fall together. Then they laugh heartily and try
it again.
Ebisu is the patron of daily food, which is rice and fish, and in old
times was chiefly fish. He is nearly as fat as Daikoku, but wears a court
noble's high cap. He is always fishing or enjoying his game. When very
happy, he sits on a rock by the sea, with his right leg bent under him,
and a big red fish, called the tai, under his left arm. He carries a
straw wallet on his back to hold his fish and keep it fresh. Often he is
seen standing knee-deep in the water, pole in hand, watching for a
nibble. Some say that Ebisu is the same scamp that goes by the other name
of Sosano[=o].
Hotei is the patron of contentment, and of course is the father of
happiness. He does not wear much clothing, for the truth is that all his
property consists of an old, ragged wrapper, a fan, and a wallet. He is
as round as a pudding, and as fat as if rolled out of dough. His body is
like a lump of mochi pastry, and his limbs like dango dumplings. He
has lop ears that hang down over his shoulders, a tremendous double chin,
and a round belly. Though he will not let his beard grow long, the
slovenly old fellow never has it shaven when he ought to. He is a jolly
vagabond, and never fit for company; but he is a great friend of the
children, who romp over his knees and shoulders, pull his ears and climb
up over his shaven head. He always keeps something good for them in his
wallet. Sometimes he opens it wide, and then makes them guess what is
inside. They try to peep in but are not tall enough to look over the
edge. He makes tops, paints pictures or kites for the boys, and is the
children's greatest friend. When the seven patrons meet together, Hotei
is apt to drink more wine than is good for him.
Toshitoku is almost the only one of the seven who never lays aside his
dignity. He has a very grave countenance. He is the patron of talents.
His pet animal is a spotted fawn. He travels about a good deal to find
and reward good boys, who are diligent in their studies, and men who are
fitted to rule. In one hand he carries a crooked staff of bamboo, at the
top of which is hung a book or roll of manuscript. His dress is like
that of a learned doctor, with square cap, stole, and high-toed slippers.
Bishamon is the patron of glory and fame. He is a mighty soldier, with a
golden helmet, breastplate and complete armor. He is the protector of
priests and warriors. He gives them skill in fencing, horsemanship and
archery. He holds a pagoda in one hand and a dragon sword in the other.
His pet animal is the tiger.
Six out of the jolly seven worthies are men. Benten is the only lady. She
is the patron of the family and of the sea. She plays the flute and the
guitar for the others, and amuses them at their feasts, sometimes even
dancing for them. Her real home is in Riu Gu, and she is the Queen of the
world under the sea. She often dwells in the sea or ocean caves. Her
favorite animal is the snake, and her servants are the dragons.
Once a year the jolly seven meet together to talk over old times, relate
their adventures, and have a supper together. Then they proceed to
business, which is to arrange all the marriages for the coming year. They
have a great many hanks of red and white silk, which are the threads of
fate of those to be married: The white threads are the men, the red are
the women. At first they select the threads very carefully, and tie a
great many pairs or couples neatly and strongly together, so that the
matches are perfect. All such marriages of threads make happy marriages
among human beings. But by-and-by they get tired, and lazy, and instead
of tying the knots carefully, they hurry up the work and then jumble them
carelessly, and finally toss and tangle up all the rest in a muss.
This is the reason why so many marriages are unhappy.
Then they begin to frolic like big boys. Benten plays the guitar, and
Bishamon lies down on the floor resting with his elbows to hear it. Hotei
drinks wine out of a shallow red cup as wide as a dinner plate. Daikoku
and Fukuroku Jin begin to wrestle, and when Daikoku gets his man down, he
pounds his big head with an empty gourd while Toshitoku and Ebisu begin
to eat tai fish. When this fun is over, Benten and Fukuroku Jin play a
game of checkers, while the others look on and bet; except Hotei the fat
fellow, who is asleep. Then they get ashamed of themselves for gambling,
and after a few days the party breaks up and each one goes to his regular
business again.