In the article I talked about the Ebisu and the kun shai 3 face chinese god. I mentioned that he is the guardian deity of markets. Let’s take a closer look at the kun shai 3 face deity.
Ebisu
Ebisu is a Japanese mythology deity and one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. He is the patron of fishermen, the sea and commerce. His image is often of a fat fisherman with a fishing rod in one hand and a sea bream in the other. He is a very popular deity and his image is often seen in places of commerce.
Ebisu is traditionally portrayed as a rotund fisherman wearing a large hat and carrying a fishing rod. The fish he is holding is the symbol of abundance and luck. He is also associated with jellyfish and other objects found in the sea. However, Ebisu has only appeared in one Japanese anime, Noragami. The series has seven lucky gods and an immoral Ebisu.
The Japanese have long worshipped Ebisu. In the first year of the Chokan Era, Ebisu was being invoked at Todaiji in Nara. It is also said that he guarded the markets. He was also invoked at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura in the fifth year of the Kencho Era.
JAANUS – Seven Lucky Gods Page is a comprehensive online deity dictionary that covers both Buddhist and Shinto deities. It has over 8,000 entries. You can also read about the Seven Lucky Gods by Dr. Mary Neighbour Parent on her website.
Ebisu is a god of good fortune, and is considered the patron kami of fishers. He is also the god of wealth and a generous nature. Ebisu is a common deity in Japan, but he can be worshipped anywhere.
Ebisu is also associated with Hiruko, a sickly boy who was raised by the Ainu. In the story of Hiruko, he was raised by his Ainu caretaker, Ebisu Saburo. As a child, he was called the Leech Child. His parents disowned him. Hiruko floated on the sea for some time before washing on an unknown shore. Hiruko was taken in and raised by the deity, Ebisu Saburo. By age three, he had gained his legs and eventually his whole skeleton.
Ebisu’s parentage varies, but he is believed to be the first child of his parents, Izanami and Izanagi. He was rejected by his parents due to his imperfection. The myth also says that he is the son of Daikokuten and Okuninushi, who were the gods of luck and prosperity in ancient Japan.
