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Ebisu (mythology)

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Ebisu
Kami associated with water, fisheries, business, wealth
Member of Seven Gods of Fortune
Statue of Ebisu at Ebisu-jinja in Kyoto
Other namesHiruko
AnimalsFish "Ebisu Dai"
GenderMale
RegionMainly Kansai
Ethnic groupJapanese
ParentsIzanagi and Izanami

Ebisu (えびす, 恵比須えびす, 恵比寿えびす, 夷えびす, 戎えびす), also transliterated Webisu (ゑびす, see historical kana orthography) or called Hiruko (蛭子えびす) or Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami (事代ことしろ主神しゅしん), is the Japanese god of fishermen and luck. He is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune (七福神しちふくじん, Shichifukujin), and the only one of the seven to originate purely from Japan without any Buddhist or Taoist influence.

Origins as Hiruko[edit]

In medieval times, Ebisu's origin came to be tied together with that of Hiruko, the first child of Izanagi and Izanami, born without bones (or, in some stories, without arms and legs) due to his mother's transgression during the marriage ritual. Hiruko struggled to survive but, as he could not stand, he was cast into the sea in a boat of reeds before his third birthday.[1] The story tells that Hiruko eventually washed ashore—possibly in Ezo (蝦夷えぞ, ancient Hokkaidō)—and was cared for by the Ainu Ebisu Saburo (戎えびす三郎さぶろう). It is however believed that Ebisu first arose as a god among fishermen and that his origin as Hiruko was a much later conception, after the worship of him had spread to merchants and farmers.[2] It is also theorized that he was originally a god known as "Kotoshironushi no Mikoto", son of Ōkuninushi.[3] He became one of the shichifukujin or the seven gods of fortune, which include Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, and Hotei.[4] Ebisu, together with Daikokuten, was considered the most popular of these seven and was venerated in almost every Japanese home.[4]

For some communities, in addition for being a deity of fishing, wealth, and fortune, Ebisu is also associated with objects that would drift ashore from the sea such as logs and even corpses.[5] As part of the shichifukujin, Ebisu has three sets of temples and shrines in Tokyo, the Mukojima, Yamate (Bluff), and Meguro sets.[4]

Legend[edit]

Statue of Ebisu in front of Ebisu Station, Tokyo

The weak child overcame many hardships, grew legs (and, presumably, the rest of his skeletal structure) at the age of three, and became the god Ebisu.[citation needed] He remains slightly crippled and deaf, but mirthful and auspicious nonetheless (hence the title, "The laughing god"). He is often depicted wearing a tall hat—the Kazaori Eboshi (風ふう折烏帽子おりえぼし)—holding a rod and a large red sea bream or sea bass. Jellyfish are also associated with the god and the fugu restaurants of Japan will often incorporate Ebisu in their motif.

In fishing communities across Japan it is extremely common to see fishermen ritualistically praying to Ebisu before they head out for the day. The fishermen’s relationship with Ebisu is indicative of Japan’s relationship with nature as a whole. Fishermen tell stories of how Ebisu keeps the ocean safe and pristine, pushing debris to the shore. As Ebisu is said to have no arms or legs, fishermen often suggest it takes 7 years for things like screws, bolts, or umeboshi seeds, to turn up on shore as Ebisu carries the seed in his mouth and crawls his way along the ocean floor. For this reason, it is believed that Ebisu becomes enraged whenever people pollute the ocean.

Cultural relevance[edit]

Ebisu's festival is celebrated on the twentieth day of the tenth month, Kannazuki (the month without gods). While the other myriad members[citation needed] of the Japanese pantheon gather at The Grand Shrine of Izumo, Ebisu does not hear the summons and is thus still available for worship.

Ebisu is frequently paired with Daikokuten, another of the seven gods of Fortune, in displays of the twin patrons by small shopkeepers. In some versions of the myth they are father and son (or master and apprentice). Also, these two are often joined by Fukurokuju as the "Three Gods of Good Fortune".

As a form of animal worshipping, Ebisu was often associated with marine megafauna such as whales and whale sharks (hence the latter being called the "Ebisu-Shark") that bring in masses of fish and protect fishermen.[6][7] In areas of Northeast Japan, Japanese fishermen opposed whaling, as they believed whales were an incarnation of Ebisu.[8]

Ebisu is depicted or parodied in a wide range of media, from artwork to costumed impersonations at local festivals and in commercial logos and advertisements. One of the most widely recognized product logos is in association with Yebisu beer, which was first brewed in 1890, and was acquired by Sapporo Brewery.

Ebisu is the basis of the name of the clothing brand Evisu.

The B.League professional basketball team Osaka Evessa is named after the local pronunciation of Ebisu-sama (as Ebessan), reflecting the god’s longstanding importance in the city of Osaka. Team mascot Maido-kun is a stylized, childlike depiction of Ebisu wearing a basketball uniform.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kojiki". Translated by Chamberlain, B. H. 1882. Retrieved 2006-09-09.
  2. ^ Garcia, Hector (2012). Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, Zen, and the Tea Ceremony. Tuttle Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-4629-0629-1.
  3. ^ Encyclopedia Nipponica (Shogakukan): "えびす"
  4. ^ a b c De Garis, Frederick; Sakai, Atsuharu (2009). We Japanese. Oxon: Routledge. p. 502. ISBN 0710307195.
  5. ^ Rambelli, Fabio (2018). The Sea and the Sacred in Japan: Aspects of Maritime Religion. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 191. ISBN 978-1-350-06285-6.
  6. ^ 村上むらかみ健司けんじ 編著へんちょ (2005). 日本にっぽん妖怪ようかい大だい事典じてん. Kwai books. 角川書店かどかわしょてん. p. 182. ISBN 978-4-04-883926-6.
  7. ^ 大藤おおふじ時彦ときひこ他た (1955). 民俗みんぞく学がく研究所けんきゅうじょ編へん (ed.). 綜合そうごう日本にっぽん民俗みんぞく語彙ごい. Vol. 第だい2巻かん. 柳田やなぎだ國男くにお 監修かんしゅう. 平凡社へいぼんしゃ. p. 763.
  8. ^ Holm, Fynn (2023). The Gods of the Sea: Whales and Coastal Communities in Northeast Japan, c.1600-2019. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-009-30551-8.

External links[edit]

  • Media related to Ebisu at Wikimedia Commons
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