It is believed that the Seven Deities bring good fortune. They are called Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Hotei, Fukurokuju, and Juroujin. Once upon a time, going on a pilgrimage to your own temple or shrine between January 1 and 7 was very popular. It is believed that if you put a picture of a treasure ship (takarabune) full of gold, silver, treasures with the Seven Deities of Good Fortune under your pillow when you go to bed on the night of January 2, you will have a lucky dream. We call the dream of January 2 the first dream of the year (hatsuyume) and if you have a lucky dream on that night, you will be lucky for the whole year. Seven is said to be a holy number. God created the world in seven days, so seven is called the number of perfection. Numbers that can't be divided by 2 were“mysterious”for ancient people because they were difficult to manage. Seven Bibles / Seven Seas / Seven Wonders of the World / The seven ups and eight downs of life (Nanakorobi ya oki) / The seven spring herbs / The seven autumn flowers/gala day for boys of five and girls of three and seven (Shichigosan) / Seven colors (Nanairo) /Seven kinds of red peppers (Shichimitogarashi) / Seven Transformations (Shichihenge)

BENZAITEN

DAIKOKUTEN

JUROUJIN

BISHAMONTEN

HOTEI

EBISUTEN

FUKUROKUJU