Benzaiten

How to recognise Benzaiten

1. BiwaShe holds or plays the biwa, the short-necked, pear-shaped four-stringed Japanese lute, which stands for music, storytelling, eloquence and learning.
2. White snake or dragonA small white snake or white dragon, calm and benevolent, is her water messenger, and she is sometimes shown seated on a white dragon.
3. Flowing gownShe wears a long Chinese-style gown with scarf and sleeves streaming like water, a look that became popular in biwa-holding images from the 13th century.
4. Gentle bearingHer face is serene and gently smiling, since in her biwa form she is a graceful patron of artists and never fierce.
5. Water settingHer shrines stand on islands, in caves or beside pools, so gentle waves or a lotus pond often form the backdrop.
6. Jewel and swordIn some forms she holds a wish-granting jewel (cintāmaṇi) and a sword, signs of her power to grant fortune and protect.
7. Other formsShe also appears as the eight-armed Happi Benzaiten holding the weapons listed in the Golden Light Sutra, and as Uga Benzaiten with the white snake Ugajin, which has an old man's head, coiled above her.

Names and titles

• Goddess of All That FlowsShe is the goddess of anything that flows: water, music, speech, poetry and love
• Lady of the BiwaThe biwa lute is her best-known attribute, standing for music and eloquence
• The Only Lady of the Seven Lucky GodsShe is the sole goddess among the seven
• Eloquence That Tamed a DragonIn the Enoshima legend she persuaded a dragon that was plaguing a village to stop, and it became a hill
• Raiser of Enoshima IslandTradition says she caused the island of Enoshima to rise from the sea in 552 CE

Feast days

• Kangen-sai20 July 2027

  The great summer boat festival of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima, the island's biggest of the year. It recreates the music-making boat outings of Heian court nobles, offered to the island's deities, whom devotees count as including Benzaiten.

  How it's celebrated. After a Shinto rite at the shrine, a portable shrine carrying the deities is borne through the great torii to a ceremonial boat. Rowing boats tow it while musicians play kangen court music, and it visits shrines around the shore before returning late at night. Daiganji's Benzaiten is also reported to be shown to the public on this day.

  Sources: Japanese Government Online: Elegant Boat Ritual (Kangensai) · Get Hiroshima: Miyajima Kangen-sai · Wikipedia: Itsukushima (Daiganji)

• Renge-e15 August, every year

  The Lotus Society, called the biggest event of the year on Chikubushima. Its history is tied to devotion to Benzaiten and to prayers for rain and a good harvest. Scholars trace its roots to the medieval period.

  How it's celebrated. Hōgon-ji describes two married couples, chosen as ritual heads from the old Asai district, who receive a sacred Benzaiten from the island and care for it. Historically each head had a new Benzaiten image made. A procession climbs the steep stairs to the Benzaiten hall, where the image is enshrined and a Buddhist service is held.

  Sources: Chikubushima Hōgon-ji: Annual Events · Gallery Youyou: Chikubushima, Benzaiten Worship and Renge-e · Benzaiten's Main Sanctuaries in Japan (Onmark Productions)

• Kigansai25 July 2027 (date to be confirmed)

  A prayer festival at Hōgon-ji, the Benzaiten temple on Chikubushima in Lake Biwa. According to the temple, it is held for a good harvest and for the protection of the country.

  How it's celebrated. The temple says local leaders from the surrounding district come to the island to pray at this festival. Little more is recorded in the sources found, so details of the rites and any foods or home customs are not given here. The temple's own annual-events page is the best place to check.

  Sources: Chikubushima Hōgon-ji: Annual Events