Daikoku-ten (God of Good Fortune) / Artist Unknown, Japan
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1979/2.85
- Title
- Daikoku-ten (God of Good Fortune)
- Artist
- Artist Unknown, Japan
- 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)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. William Muschenheim
- Dimensions
- ()
- Century
- 19th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Wood and Woodcarving
- Primary Object Type
- figure
- Physical Description
- This woodwork depicts Daikoku, the god of good fortune, who is associated with farmers. Here he is sitting astride two large barrels of rice, while carrying over his shoulder a large sack, brimming with treasure. In his right hand he holds a magic mallet, said to be able to produce anything the heart desires when struck.
- Subject Matter
- Daikoku is one of the seven lucky gods (shichi fukujin) of Japanese mythology; he is associated with farmers. 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 Ebisu, Daikoku 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.
- Primary Keywords
- deity
- folk art
- gods
- mythology (literary genre)
- wood (sculpture by material)
- woodwork
- Secondary Keywords
- art genres
- artistic concepts
- associated concepts
- concepts in the arts
- descriptors
- genres in the arts
- literary, oral and motion picture genres
- object genres
- object genres by material
- objects we use
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people by state or condition
- religions and religious concepts
- religious concepts
- sculpture
- sculpture by material
- visual works
- visual works by medium or technique
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 496 x 792
- File Size
- 23 KB
- Record
- 1979/2.85
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1979-sl-2.85/1979_2.85.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
- In public portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1979-SL-2.85:1979_2.85.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Daikoku-ten (God of Good Fortune); Artist Unknown, Japan." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1979-sl-2.85/1979_2.85.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 17, 2024.
