Daikokuten

Daikoku, the God of Wealth in Taoism

In Japan, Daikokuten (大黒天), is one of the Seven Lucky Gods. Daikokuten came from the Indian god, Shiva. Daikoku wears Japanese robes and has a happy and smiling personality.

Location

Daikoku's pictures are found in the temples of Tibet and China and the god enjoys a high position as a household god in Japan. Daikoku's connection with wealth and success started a strange ritual known as Fuku-nusubi. This ritual started with the belief that the person who stole figures of gods and goddesses was promised good luck, if they were not caught while stealing. Eventually, stealing divine figures became so common that the Toshi-no-ichi or the ‘year-end-market’ held in the Asakusa Kannon temple became the main place where the sale of these images was held.

Purpose

Daikoku is considered to be the god of wealth or the household, mostly the kitchen. He is recognised from his wide face, smile, and a flat black hat. He is often shown holding a golden mallet and sitting on bales of rice.

An old one-yen bank note, first issued in 1885, with a picture of Daikokuten.

Daikokuten Media

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  11th–12th century stone stele of Mahākāla from Bihar (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

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  Mahākāla (center) flanked by the bodhisattvas Samantabhadra (left) and Mañjuśrī (right). Baocheng Temple, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

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  Ming dynasty statue of Dàhēitiān. Sichuan, China. 14th century (with pedestal from the 16th century)

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  Daikokuten (from the Besson Zakki)

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  The god Ōkuninushi, bearing a sack, meeting the Hare of Inaba

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  18th century ukiyo-e depicting Daikokuten (left) and Ebisu (right)

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  Mahākāla as depicted in the Womb Realm (Garbhadhātu) Maṇḍala, holding an elephant hide, a sword, a human and a goat

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  Andhakasuravadha, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

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  Qing dynasty statuette of Dàhēitiān. China. 17th century.

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  Stone sculpture of Mahākāla (one of a pair of door guardians), from Central Java, Indonesia

References

• Japan and Indian Asia by Hajime Nakamura. Publisher: Firma KLM, 1961. Publication Date: 1961
• India and Japan: A Study in interaction during 5th cent - 14th century - By Upendra Thakur .