What is Benzaiten the goddess of?
Benten, also called Benzaiten, (Japanese: Divinity of the Reasoning Faculty), in Japanese mythology, one of the Shichi-fuku-jin (Seven Gods of Luck); the Buddhist patron goddess of literature and music, of wealth, and of femininity.
Who is Benzaiten Biwaki?
Biwaki shares her first name with the Japanese Buddhist goddess Benzaiten, who is often depicted holding and playing a biwa similarly to Biwaki. Just like Kuriko and Kuchisake-onna, you can hide from her by standing near to the vines/patches of grass.
How old is Benzaiten?
Benzaiten (弁才天, 弁財天) (also known as Benten) is a Japanese Buddhist goddess who originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati. Worship of Benzaiten arrived in Japan during the 6th through 8th centuries, mainly via the Chinese translations of the Sutra of Golden Light, which has a section devoted to her.
Who is the Japanese goddess of love?
Benzaiten (or Benten) is the Japanese goddess of everything that flows including water, music, words and eloquence. In the popular imagination she is also associated with femininity and love. Benzaiten is often depicted holding a Japanese lute.
How is Benzaiten related to other river goddesses?
Benzaiten is also closely associated with another river goddess, Saraswati, a goddess who personifies both the river from which she draws her name and all other things that flow, including music, poetry, writing, learning, eloquence, wisdom, and the performing arts.
Who is the Hindu and Buddhist goddess Benzaiten?
Benzaiten (弁才天, 弁財天) (Benten for short) is a Japanese Buddhist goddess who originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati.
What does Benzaiten stand for in Japanese mythology?
Sometimes she is called Benten, or Benzaitennyo (弁才天女), where the final tennyo (天女) translates as “goddess”. When Kisshoutennyo is counted among the seven fukujin and fellow fukujin Daikoku is regarded in feminine form, together with Benzaitennyo all three of the Hindu Tridevi are represented in the fukujin.
What kind of lute does Benzaiten hold?
She is also mentioned in the Lotus Sutra and often depicted holding a biwa, a traditional Japanese lute, just as Saraswati holds a veena. Benzaiten is a syncretic entity with both a Buddhist and a Shinto aspect. Benzaiten was worshiped as the personification of wisdom in the Tokugawa period.
