Ebisu

Ebisu , early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: wood

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.2837

Not on display

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Salina Art Center: Shattering the Void: Realms of Meaning in East Asian Art

Ebisu is a cheerful figure, usually depicted with a wide smile. Ebisu overcame great hardship as a child to become the great laughing god. Here Ebisu is depicted wearing a tall, pointed cap, and grasping a large fish tucked under his arm. In Japan Ebisu is thought to protect fishermen and bring good fortune.

Daikoku wears a flat hat and holds a mallet of fortune in one hand with a bag of treasures slung over his shoulder in the other hand. He stands on two bales of rice that signify abundance. He is often paired with the laughing god Ebisu as a cheerful god of good fortune, and is primarily considered a god of wealth in Japan.