DAIKOKU

[Japanese] The Japanese god of wealth and protector of the soil and patron of farmers. He is one of the Shichi Fukujin. Called the Great Black One, he makes wishes of mortals come true. He is portrayed as a fat and prosperous man, standing or seated on two bags of rice and with a bag of jewels on his shoulder. On his chest he has a golden sun disk and in his hand he holds a magic mallet (with male and female symbols) which fulfils all wishes. His familiar is the rat, and he is a friend of children. Ebisu is his son. Sometimes the image is of a goddess, called Yasha.