shichi fukujin

Seven Gods of Good Luck

The grouping of the Seven Gods of Good Luck became popular during the Edo period and is still found today. Many of these gods have a zodiac animal associated with them, and so the gods are often used in art to represent the current zodiac year. Hotei is the cheerful god with a bare belly holding a fan and a bag of treasures. Fukurokuju has a tall forehead and also carries a fan. The animals associated with him are the stork and deer. Daikokuten is the god with a magic mallet that sits on a drum with the triple comma motif.

Symbols of Japan: Thematic Motifs in Art and Design
Merrily Baird