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Pilgrimage to the Seven Lucky Gods – travel and prayer for good fortune

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In Japan, people started to believe in the Seven Lucky Gods during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). The faith then grew up quickly through the prosperous business area of the Muromachi period (1338-1573), and ended firmly rooted in the Edo period (1603-1867). Every year from January 1st to 15th, people would stay at home waiting for the Seven Lucky Gods to descent and bring good fortune to them. In the early 19 century, people actively visited temples dedicated to the Seven Lucky Gods praying for their family’s safety, longevity, good business, and successful career.
The Seven Lucky Gods are usually not worshipped in the same temple, so it may take a lot of time to visit them all. However, temples should also be regarded as treasure houses of local history, culture, and religion, and thanks to the prosperous Edo period the pilgrimage developed until nowadays.

Japanese people usually picture the Seven Lucky Gods sailing a treasure ship full of valuables and foods. Besides going on a pilgrim in January, some people also draw the treasure ship on January 2nd and put the drawing under their pillow hoping the ship would appear in their new year’s first dream to bring them good fortune.

The faith of the Seven Lucky Gods is not related to an only religion, each god has a different origin but they are all related to luck, fortune, and longevity. For example, inherited from Hinduism there are Daikokuten(大黑天) the god of kitchen, field, and fortune; Bishamonten (毘沙門天) the god of war, and Benzaiten (弁財天), the only goddess, bringing good fortune. Besides, Fukurokuju (福禄寿) and Jurojin (寿老人) come from Chinese Taoism while Hoteison (布袋尊) is inherited from Buddism. The only Japanese god in the Seven Lucky Gods is Ebisu (恵比寿) who is in charge of fishery, business, and agriculture.

Pilgrimage combining tourism and the Seven Lucky Gods, a Kagawa prefecture initiative

Recently, many Japanese local governments have been designing touristic tours around the theme “Tourism and Religious faith” to improve the local economy. These Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimages are scenic routes drawn for the worshippers to travel through the seven temples and enjoy the local culture.

IMGP5588The “Sanuki Seven Lucky Gods route” cross Ayagawacho, Takamatsu city, and Higashi-Kagawa city, and would take about six hours by car beginning from the Tamura shrine (田村神社), then Shirotori shrine (白鳥神社), Yodaji temple (與田寺), Honenji temple (法然寺), Kozaiji temple (香西寺), Kokubunji temple (國分寺), and last the Takinomiya Tenmangu (滝宮天満宮). They are the seven historical shrines and temples to visit on the route to complete the pilgrimage.

The “Shodoshima Seven Lucky Gods route” is combining the seven Hachiman shrines of Shodoshima, and it would take about five hours by car. In any season, visitors can enjoy the charms of Shodoshima through the beautiful scenery, local history, and culture, while visiting the Seven Lucky Gods.

The “Shikoku Sanshu Seven Lucky Gods route” is located in the west Sanuki area (the west Kagawa prefecture) and includes Mitoyo city and Kanonji city, and it would take about six hours by car. However the gods worshipped on this route are different as Fukurokuju is replaced by the Old Man of the South Pole(南極老人), and Jurojin by the goddess Lakshmi (吉祥天), therefore there are two feminine gods in this special Seven Lucky Gods. In 2019, the route adds the Fudo Myoo (不動明王) to protect the Seven Lucky Gods and changes its name to “Shikoku Sanshu Shichifuku Happou temple” (四国讚州七福八寶之寺).

IMGP6111Originated in the Edo period, Shikoku Pilgrimage, symbol of Shikoku, had a pilgrimage route named Nanakashomairi (七ヶ所まいり, pilgrimage around seven places) located in the middle of Sanuki. People believed that they could get the same good fortune and luck as the pilgrims finishing the Shikoku Pilgrimage, if they could visit the all seven temples from the Iyadaniji temple(彌谷寺, No. 71) to the Doryuji temple (道隆寺, No 77) included within a day.

However, the popularity of this route declined after 1950. For retrieving the past prosperity, in 2011 the seven temples planned a new route named “Seven Lucky Gods Nadebutu” (七福神なで仏) which takes about five hours by cars. This route is not only offering to visitors a taste of the experience of the Shikoku Pilgrimage but is also a real pilgrim to pray the Seven Lucky Gods.

The place gathering all Seven Lucky Gods.

Besides the pilgrimage combined with tourism, some shrines and temples set up Seven Lucky Gods in their precinct to allow visitors to worship them easily.

IMGP5517In Tamura shrine, for example, there is not only Hoteison belonging to the “Sanuki Seven Lucky Gods” but also an “Ichiomiya Seven Lucky Gods” (一宮七福神) and “Hohoemiwarabe Seven Lucky Gods” (微笑童七福神) where all the gods are gathered.

IMGP4765In Konzouji temple (金倉寺), the no. 76 temple of Shikoku Pilgrimage, worship Benzaiten from the “Seven Lucky Gods Nadebutu”, and also set the “Junrei Seven Lucky Gods” (巡禮七福神) where it is possible to pray the seven gods at once.

IMG_8641However, the very special one is the “Seven Lucky Gods Pines of Tsudanomatsubara” (津田松原) of the Kinrin park in the Higashi-Kagawa city.

IMGP8236 (1)These seven pines worshipped as gods are averaged over 600 years. There are sacred straw ropes tied on the trees and stand beside them a monument carved with the god’s names it represents. It is really pleasant to find those majestic pines in a 10-hectare pine tree forest where the Setouchi Inland Sea echoes.

IMGP4744The Seven Lucky Gods are commonly worshipped in temples, rarely in shrines. When you encounter one of the Seven Lucky Gods in the temple, do not forget to join hands together and pray for the safety and blessing for your loved ones and yourself.

INFORMATION

Tamura shrine (田村神社)

Access: 10-minute walk from Kotoden Ichinomiya station.

Konzouji temple (金倉寺)

Access: 8-minute walk from JR Dosan line Konzoji station.

Zentsuji temple (善通寺)

Access: 20-minute walk from JR Dosan line Zentsuji station.

Tsudanomatsubara Kinrin park (津田松原・琴林公園)

Access: 10-minute walk from JR Snuki-tsuda station.

Further reading (Japanese only)

Sanuki Seven Lucky Gods (讚岐七福神):http://tamurajinja.com/7fuku
Shodoshima Seven Lucky Gods (小豆島七福神):http://7fuku-jin.net/
Shikoku Sanshu Shichifuku Happou temple (四国讚州七福八寶之寺):https://www.facebook.com/sanshyu.shichifukujin/
Nanakashomairi (七ヶ所まいり): https://7kasyomairi.sakura.ne.jp/
The temples and shrines worshiped Seven Lucky Gods in Kagawa prefecture:https://7.longseller.org/p/37.html

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