Kisshōten

Kisshōten (吉祥天, lit. "Auspicious Heavens"), also known as Kichijōten, Kisshoutennyo (吉祥天女), Kudokuten (功徳天) is a Japanese female deity. Adapted via Buddhism from the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. Kisshoutennyo is sometimes named as one of the Seven Gods of Fortune (fukujin), replacing either Jurōjin or Fukurokuju.[1] For example, in the 1783 edition of the Butsuzōzui compendium (reprinted in 1796), Kichijōten replaces Fukurokuju as one of the seven fukujin.[2] She is considered to be the goddess of happiness, fertility, and beauty.[1][3] Kisshoutennyo's iconography is distinguished by the Nyoihōju gem (如意宝珠) in her hand[4], Kisshōten and the Nyoihōju gem are both represented by the symbol of the kagome.

This article is about the Buddhist goddess. For the Hindu equivalent, see Lakshmi.

Śrīmahādevī (Buddhism)
Sanskritश्रीमहादेवी
Śrīmahādevī
Chinese吉祥天
(Pinyin: Jíxiáng tiān)
Japanese吉祥天（きっしょうてん） （ or きちじょうてん）
(romaji: Kichijōten)
Korean길상천
(RR: Gilsang Cheon)
Tibetanལྷ་མོ་ཆེན་མོ་དཔལ།་
Wylie: lha mo chen mo dpal
VietnameseCát Tường Thiên
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Venerated byMahāyāna, Vajrayāna
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When Kisshoutennyo is counted among the seven fukujin[2] and fellow Fukujin Daikoku is regarded in feminine form,[5] all three of the Hindu Tridevi goddesses are represented in the Fukujin, with Daikoku representing Parvati.

See also

References
  1. "Wooden figure of Kichijōten". The British Museum. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  2. "Butsuzōzui (Illustrated Compendium of Buddhist Images)" (digital photos) (in Japanese). Ehime University Library. 1796. p. (077.jpg).
  3. "Kisshōten (Kichijōten)". Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  4. Neighbour-Parent, Mary. "Kichijouten 吉祥天". JAANUS. Atsumi International Scholarship Foundation.
  5. "Butsuzōzui (Illustrated Compendium of Buddhist Images)" (digital photos) (in Japanese). Ehime University Library. 1796. p. (059.jpg).
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