Ebisu (mythology)
Ebisu | |
---|---|
Kansai | |
Ethnic group | Japanese |
Parents | Izanagi and Izanami |
Ebisu (えびす, 恵比須, 恵比寿, 夷, 戎), also transliterated Webisu (ゑびす, see
Origins as Hiruko
In medieval times, Ebisu's origin came to be tied together with that of Hiruko, the first child of
For some communities, in addition for being a deity of fishing, wealth, and fortune, Ebisu is also associated with objects that would drift ashore from the sea such as logs and even corpses.[5] As part of the shichifukujin, Ebisu has three sets of temples and shrines in Tokyo, the Mukojima, Yamate (Bluff), and Meguro sets.[4]
Legend
The weak child overcame many hardships, grew legs (and, presumably, the rest of his skeletal structure) at the age of three, and became the god Ebisu.[ restaurants of Japan will often incorporate Ebisu in their motif.
In fishing communities across Japan it is extremely common to see fishermen ritualistically praying to Ebisu before they head out for the day. The fishermen’s relationship with Ebisu is indicative of Japan’s relationship with nature as a whole. Fishermen tell stories of how Ebisu keeps the ocean safe and pristine, pushing debris to the shore. As Ebisu is said to have no arms or legs, fishermen often suggest it takes 7 years for things like screws, bolts, or umeboshi seeds, to turn up on shore as Ebisu carries the seed in his mouth and crawls his way along the ocean floor. For this reason, it is believed that Ebisu becomes enraged whenever people pollute the ocean.
Cultural relevance
Ebisu's festival is celebrated on the twentieth day of the tenth month,
Ebisu is frequently paired with Daikokuten, another of the seven gods of Fortune, in displays of the twin patrons by small shopkeepers. In some versions of the
As a form of
Ebisu is depicted or parodied in a wide range of media, from artwork to costumed impersonations at local festivals and in commercial logos and advertisements. One of the most widely recognized product logos is in association with Yebisu beer, which was first brewed in 1890, and was acquired by
Ebisu is the basis of the name of the clothing brand Evisu.
The B.League professional basketball team Osaka Evessa is named after the local pronunciation of Ebisu-sama (as Ebessan), reflecting the god’s longstanding importance in the city of Osaka. Team mascot Maido-kun is a stylized, childlike depiction of Ebisu wearing a basketball uniform.
References
- ^ "Kojiki". Translated by Chamberlain, B. H. 1882. Retrieved 2006-09-09.
- ISBN 978-1-4629-0629-1.
- ^ Encyclopedia Nipponica (Shogakukan): "えびす"
- ^ ISBN 0710307195.
- ISBN 978-1-350-06285-6.
- ISBN 978-4-04-883926-6.
- ^ 大藤時彦他 (1955). 民俗学研究所編 (ed.). 綜合日本民俗語彙. Vol. 第2巻. 柳田國男 監修. 平凡社. p. 763.
- ISBN 978-1-009-30551-8.
External links
- Media related to Ebisu at Wikimedia Commons