The Seven Lucky Gods in a Treasure Ship, Suzuki Harunobu

Artwork Overview

Suzuki Harunobu, The Seven Lucky Gods in a Treasure Ship
Suzuki Harunobu, The Seven Lucky Gods in a Treasure Ship
Suzuki Harunobu
The Seven Lucky Gods in a Treasure Ship
late 1760s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Suzuki Harunobu, artist
circa 1725–1770
The Seven Lucky Gods in a Treasure Ship, late 1760s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Where object was made: Japan
Material/technique: color woodcut
Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 282 x 212 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 11 1/8 x 8 3/8 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 282 x 212 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 11 1/8 x 8 3/8 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in
Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial
Accession number: 1928.7577
Not on display
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Label texts

Teaching Gallery Label:
“Eyes on Icons: Exploring Japanese Buddhism at the Spencer Museum of Art,” Apr-2008, Janet Chen
The Seven Lucky Gods, or Seven Gods of Good Fortune, are among some of the most popular Japanese folk deities and are believed to bring forth wealth, prosperity, long life, and other worldly benefits. These seven deities, Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurōjin, and Hotei, each have distinct characteristics and attributes.

In this print, the seven gods are represented riding in a treasure boat. Hotei is shown on the bottom left playing with a tortoise; also on the left, the bald old man viewing a hanging scroll is Fukurokuju; the two in the center playing games are Ebisu on the left and Daikokuten on the right. The only female figure in the boat is Benzaiten, who is depicted here as the artist Harunobu’s ideal beauty. The figure in warrior guise is Bishamonten and Jurōjin, as seen on the right side of the boat, is shown in his usual form of a Daoist.

The worship of this assemblage can be traced back to the 15th century. Nowadays, it is still a popular custom for people to place a picture of the seven gods riding in a treasure boat underneath one’s pillow on the night of New Year’s Eve; for they believe it will bring forth good luck for the following year.

Exhibitions

Teaching Gallery: Eyes on Icons: Exploring Japanese Buddhism at the Spencer Museum of Art
2008