The Sanctification of the Disabled: A Study on the Images of Fortune Gods in Japanese Folk Beliefs

Abstract

Similarly to China, Japan has a long history of worshiping fortune gods. The act of making offerings and praying to these deities has been practiced since ancient times. Fortune gods are figures in Japanese folk religion that are believed to bring happiness, hope, and good luck. When speaking of fortune gods in Japan, people will first think of the Seven Lucky Gods. Apart from them, there are also some local fortune gods such as Fukusuke and Sendai Shiro. These gods share some common traits and also have connections with the Japanese folk belief in Fukuko (fortune child). This study adopts a comparative methodology to compare Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods with the local Japanese fortune gods as well as Fukuko, and then analyze their similarities. This article argues that the Japanese fortune gods have two major common characteristics: the super power to bring good fortune, and their distinctive appearance. By systematically analyzing the common features of Japanese fortune gods, this study will clarify the mechanism behind their deification as fortune deities and also help us to gain a better insight into the Japanese conceptions of deities and spirits.