EBISU (YEBISU)
God of Good Fortune and Fishermen
Japanese Origin
Shinto Name: Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami
Also known as Hiruco

One of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods

Ebisu Icon on Popular Japanese Beer named Yebisu
 Yebisu Beer is made by Sapporo Brewery in Hokkaido

Male. The god of fishermen and good fortune, the smiling and bearded Ebisu is most often depicted with a fishing rod in his right hand, with a large red sea bream (tai) dangling from the line or tucked under his left arm. Sometimes he is also carrying a folding fan, and is often wearing a two-pointed hat (I'm not sure what these objects mean). In a nation very fond of fish, he is not surprisingly one of the most popular of the seven lucky gods. Today he symbolizes not only safe sailing and plentiful fishing, but business prosperity for merchants in all trades. In carvings and artwork, Ebisu and Daikoku are often shown together, for Ebisu is said to be the son of Daikoku (see photos at bottom of page).

There is one story about the origins of Ebisu in the Kojiki, Japan's oldest chronicle. In that story, there is one god named Hiruco. Hiruco was born from the gods Izanagi-no-Mikoro and Izanami-no-Mikoto. Yet since he was born without any bones he was cast out into the ocean at age three. Somehow he returned to land and was cared for by one Ebisu Saburo.

He overcame many hardships and later became the god Ebisu. He's also considered the god of the morning sun, and he guards the health of little children, as does the Jizo Bosatsu.

ANIMAL ASSOCIATIONS
Fish, sometimes the jellyfish

Left Photo: Ebisu and Daikoku
Middle Photo: Daikoku and Ebisu
Right Photo: L to R are Daikoku, Ebisu, and Hotei


Daikoku at left, Ebisu at right

Above Photos -- Thanks to Robert Yellin,
the owner of the above four Bizen pieces



Above two bizen sets taken from Yahoo auction photos

Ebisu at Iwaki Jinja