This is a wooden carving of Benzaiten 弁財天, one of the Seven Lucky Gods. The artist is Ryozo 良三. Benzaiten 弁財天 is a goddess in Buddhism and Shintoism, and is widely worshipped as a god associated with wealth, art, music, learning, and water. Its origins lie in the Hindu goddess Saraswati** from India. This goddess was introduced to China and Japan through Buddhism, and in Japan she came to be called Benzaiten or Benzaiten. Characteristics and symbols Meaning of the name "Benzaiten 弁才天" represents her character as a goddess of intelligence and skill, while "Benzaiten 弁財天" emphasizes her aspect as a goddess who brings wealth and prosperity. Appearance and possessions She is often depicted as a beautiful woman holding a biwa, but sometimes she appears as an eight-armed (eight-armed) or snake god. The white snake is considered to be Benzaiten's messenger and a symbol of good fortune. Benefits Wealth: She is worshipped by merchants and businessmen as a goddess who brings wealth and prosperity. Arts and learning: She is also worshipped by artists and students as a goddess of music, art, and learning. Guardian of water: She is also worshipped as a water goddess and is often enshrined in lakes, rivers, and ponds. Main role as a deity Benzaiten is also known as one of the Seven Lucky Gods, and is enshrined in many shrines and temples, especially as a symbol of art and wealth. Representative temples and shrines that enshrine Benzaiten Ejima Shrine (Kanagawa Prefecture): One of the centers of Benzaiten worship. Chikubushima Shrine (Shiga Prefecture): A place closely related to water. Itsukushima Shrine (Hiroshima Prefecture): Benzaiten is enshrined as the guardian deity of the sea. Dimensions: Height: 16.7 cm Width: 11.0 cm Depth: 6.8 cm Weight: 230 g Condition: The condition is generally good. There may be small scratches, stains, scuffs, dirt, dents, peeling, etc. This is a delicate item, so please handle with care. We have posted many photos, so please take a look. Atention: The items listed for sale are all used collectibles. Please consider them to have signs of aging, such as stains, scratches, scuffs, tears, discoloration, fading, fraying, and changes in thread color. We will post as many photos as possible to make it easy to understand. As these are old items, we appreciate your understanding before making a purchase. Shipping: The lot will be carefully packaged and shipped from Japan. We will use either DHL or FedEx for a safe and secure transportation. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks for delivery, and the package will be shipped with a tracking number. Import duties, taxes, VAT, and any other charges are not included in the item price and shipping cost. Please check your country's import duties before bidding. 112421241127