Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Visit
  • Exhibitions & Events
  • Art & Design
  • Search

Visit Main Menu Block

  • Hours & Admission
  • Accessibility & Amenities
  • Tours & Group Visits
  • Visitor Guidelines

Exhibitions and Events Main Menu Block

  • Exhibitions
  • Events

Art and Design Main Menu Block

  • The Collection
  • Projects & Publications
  • Past Exhibitions

Footer Main

  • Become a Member
  • Give
  • Who We Are
  • Opportunities
  • Rent the Museum
Z0030322.jpg

Introduction

Happiness and Longevity

Deities of Good Fortune in Japanese Prints
December 5, 2003 - February 29, 2004

In Edo-period Japan (1603-1868), a long and happy life was believed to be the gift of a group of benevolent deities known as the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Shichifukujin). This holy assembly of assorted divinities united four of Buddhist origin: Bishamonten, Daikokuten, Benzaiten, and Hotei; two derived from the Daoist tradition: Fukurokuju and Jurojin; and one borrowed from Shinto belief: Ebisu. To procure benefits from these gods of luck, people made annual visits to the temples devoted to their worship. Portraying the gods served the same purpose, thus they became an important theme in the ukiyo-e woodblock printing tradition, the major art form of the Edo period. Initially, representations of these deities were treated as sacred images. Over time, such prints evolved into often-humorous genre pictures. Many such images were produced for sale at the New Year.

The beings depicted in the works on view are not distinguished by a godlike appearance. Neither stately nor austere, often characterized by eccentric features and behavior, they smile amiably and look approachable, as befits popular deities who bring happiness and prosperity. This exhibition embraces a period of over 180 years—from early experiments with color woodblock prints up to the very end of their history as popular art. Designed by Harunobu, Toyoharu, Shigemasa, Hokusai, Gakutei, and others, these prints occur in a variety of formats, including narrow, upright “pillar prints” (hashira-e), large-size print panels (ōban), privately commissioned and published deluxe prints (surimono), sketchbooks (manga), and albums. The deities appear in their traditional guise and also in comic/parodied forms (mitate) as children or courtesans.

In addition, Japanese popular religion adopted the Chinese cult of established Daoist deities known as sennin, often referred to as “Immortals.” Usually claimed to be historical figures, sennin are said to have obtained the secret of eternal life, thus setting a promising example as ideal beings. Among the Japanese gods of good fortune, Fukurokuju and Jurōjin are associated with longevity through their Daoist origin.

The variety of visual interpretations for these seven personages is not surprising: the timeless human quest for happiness and longevity sparked artists’ imaginations. We continue to yearn for the generous gifts of the Gods of Good Fortune and only hope that technical progress will make them even more efficient. The 20th-century print by Raifu shows a treasure boat propelled by steam.

Selected Objects

Z0003573.jpg

Utagawa Toyoharu

The Seven Gods of Good Fortune in Their Treasure Ship (Shichifukujin takarabune), 1770s
Z0021725.jpg

Raifu

Treasure ship (Takarabune), 1929
Z0004122.jpg

Nakamura Hōchū

Ebisu, Otafuku, Daikoku (Otafuku to Ebisu Daikoku), late 1800s- early 1900s
Z0021604.jpg

After Kitao Masayoshi

The Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Shichifukujin), 1800s
Z0004121.jpg

Attributed to Okumura Masanobu

Ebisu, mid 1740's
Z0004116.jpg

Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

Parody of child as Daikoku (Mitate daikoku), 1780's
Z0004114.jpg

Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

Parody of child as Jurojin (Mitate jurojin), 1780's
Z0004115.jpg

Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

Parody of child as Bishamon (Mitate bishamonten), 1780's
Z0004117.jpg

Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

Parody of child as Benten (Mitate benten), 1780's
Z0004119.jpg

Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

Parody of child as Hotei (Mitate hotei), 1780's
Z0004120.jpg

Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

Parody of child as Ebisu (Mitate ebisu) (Shichifukujin), 1780's
Z0004118.jpg

Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

Parody of child as Fukurokuju (Mitate fukurokuju), 1780's
Z0004113.jpg

Japanese, Japan Tokyo

First dream of the New Year (Hatsuyume), 1811.5
Z0034572.jpg

Keisai Eisen

Mount Fuji, falcon and eggplants (Ichi fuji ni taka san nasubi), 1830's
Z0004112.jpg

Suzuki Harunobu

Parody of the Immortal Kinkō (Kinkō sennin), ca. 1768
Z0030324.jpg

Yashima Gakutei

Tobosaku, 1820s
Z0030333.jpg

Yashima Gakutei

Gama, 1820s
Z0030325.jpg

Yashima Gakutei

Ryogyo, 1820s
Z0030322.jpg

Yashima Gakutei

Kinko, 1820s
Z0030323.jpg

Yashima Gakutei

Okyo, 1820s
Z0030332.jpg

Yashima Gakutei

Tekkai, 1820s
Z0030296.jpg

Yanagawa Shigenobu

Dong Fangso Stealing the Peaches of Immortality, 1823/1
RISDM 31-394-3 v_30.jpg

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 3, 1812-1849
RISDM 31-394-13 v_01.jpg

Katsushika Hokusai

Random sketches by Hokusai (Hokusai manga): Vol. 13, Kaei 2, 1849
Z0004021.jpg

Japanese

Netsuke (belt toggle), 1800s
Z0004001.jpg

Japanese

Netsuke (belt toggle), 1800s
Z0004002.jpg

Japanese

Netsuke (belt toggle), 1800s
No Image Available

Japanese

Netsuke (belt toggle), 1800s
Z0004004.jpg

Japanese

Netsuke (belt toggle), 1800s
Z0004017.jpg

Japanese

Inrō (small portable case), 1700s
Z0004005.jpg

Japanese

Netsuke (belt toggle), 1800s
Z0004000.jpg

Japanese

Netsuke (belt toggle), 1800s
RISDM 20-422 v_01.jpg

Japanese

Inrō (small portable case) and Netsuke (belt toggle), 1800s
Z0004022.jpg

Japanese

Netsuke (belt toggle), 1800s

More objects +

Exhibition Checklist

Happiness and Longevity : Deities of Good Fortune in Japanese Prints

December 5, 2003 - February 29, 2004
View Checklist PDF

RISD Museum

  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Instagram
  •  Vimeo
  •  Pinterest
  •  SoundCloud

Footer Main

  • Become a Member
  • Give
  • Who We Are
  • Opportunities
  • Rent the Museum

Footer Secondary

  • Image Request
  • Press Office
  • Rent the Museum
  • Terms of Use