In the esoteric Tendai sect (See Tendai Sect) of Japanese Buddhism (See Japanese Buddhism), there developed a composite representation of good fortune made up of the god Daikoku-ten (See Daikoku), an ancient Shinto kami (See kami) called Ebisu, and the gods Benzai-ten (See Benzai) and Bishamon (See Bishamon). Joined in the sixteenth century by three deities of good fortune of Chinese origin—Hotei, Fukurokuju, and Jurogin—the seven deities became the Seven Gods of Fortune, or Happiness, and since then have represented good luck, especially to people in business.
