Ebisu (God of Prosperity) / Artist Unknown, Japan

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About this Item

Record Details

Accession Number
1979/2.86
Title
Ebisu (God of Prosperity)
Artist Nationality
Japanese
Medium and Support
wood
Object Creation Date
19th century
Object Creation Place
Asia (continent)
Japan (nation)
Creation Place 1
Asia (continent)
Creation Place 2
Japan (nation)
Dimensions
()
Century
19th century
Primary Object Classification
Wood and Woodcarving
Primary Object Type
figure
Physical Description
This woodwork depicts Ebisu, the god of prosperity and especially associated with fishermen. Here he carries a large sea bream or red snapper symbolizing good fortune.
Subject Matter
Ebisu is one of the seven lucky gods (shichi fukujin) of Japanese mythology; he is associated with fishermen. Though this statue is carved from wood, during the Edo period it was common for such figures to be made of rice, which was not only a source of food and a sign of a bountiful harvest, but a form of currency.
Like Daikoku, Ebisu is also associated with the kitchen and were often enshrined there together to bring fortune and prosperity to the family. A lucky god, he can be found depicted in many folk paintings, including the art of Otsu-e.
Rights
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Technical Details

Image Size
536 x 776
File Size
27 KB
Record
1979/2.86
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1979-sl-2.86/1979_2.86.jpg

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Manifest
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1979-SL-2.86:1979_2.86.JPG

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Full citation
"Ebisu (God of Prosperity); Artist Unknown, Japan." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1979-sl-2.86/1979_2.86.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 23, 2024.
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