Seven Deities of Good Fortune
The seven gods who are said to bring wealth and long life.
Widely worshiped from the 15th to 17th century, the group usually consists of Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten (Skt: Vaiśrava1a), Benzaiten (Skt: Sarasvatī), Fukurokuju, Jurōjin, and Hotei. The grouping includes gods and sages of Indian, Chinese, and Japanese origin. Specifically, Ebisu, Daikokuten and Bishamonten are considered gods of fortune; Ebisu is also venerated as the fishing deity; and Daikokuten in folk religion is identified with the mythic figure Ōkuninushi no Mikoto. Benzaiten is the deity of water and music, and Fukurokuju the deity of long life. Hotei (Ch: Budai or Putai) is thought to be an eccentric Zen priest who was believed to be an incarnation of the bodhisattva Maitreya. Still popular is the custom of placing a picture of the seven gods, aboard a treasure ship, under one's pillow on the night of 1 January to guarantee that the first dream of the year will be a lucky one.

1. Ebisu, a deity of wealth and fishing, carries a large fish.
2. Daikokuten, a deity of wealth, stands on a bag of rice.
3. Benzaiten, a deity of water and music, plays the biwa (a kind of lute).
4. Bishamonten, a deity of good fortune, is dressed in armor.
5. Jurōjin, a deity of long life, is accompanied by a deer.
6. Fukurokuju, a deity of long life (sometimes identified with Jurōjin), can be recognized by his large head.
7. Hotei, a deity of good fortune and happiness, is known for his large stomach.

出典：Kodansha, Encyclopedia of Japan