M015 - Daikoku 大黒

Menuki with the motif of the deity Daikoku, deity of wealth, trade and exchange.

Menuki Omote: Length 28mm, Width 14.5mm, Height 4.5mm

Menuki Ura: Length 28.5mm, Width 14mm, Height 5mm

Daikoku is one of the Seven Lucky Gods (七福神 - Shichi Fukujin).
Daikoku is a god of wealth, trade and exchange.
He is often depicted lying on bags of rice (wealth), with a sack over his shoulder containing wisdom and patience. His cane or mallet, depending on the depiction, symbolizes the virtue of work. Each blow of the mallet brings down a shower of gold coins.

The Japanese name Daikoku is a direct translation of the Sanskrit name Mahākāla, which means "Great Black One". Mahākāla, a form of the Hindu god Shiva, is the lord of darkness, a god with great destructive power, and also a god of war.
In Japan, he is benevolent and is portrayed with a smile of good fortune.