The 1790 painting of Seven Lucky Gods by Maruyama Okyo on the silk painting demonstrates the combination of naturalism and traditional Japanese painting style typical of the artist. The picture includes the illustration of gods with playful children around who play with the sacred elements of luck and prosperity painted with ink, watercolors, gold paint and gouache. The painting shows fine brushstrokes that create realistic yet amusing picture. At the bottom right corner, there is a signature "Kansei Kanoeinu Chushun sha, Okyo" and two seals: "Okyo no in" and "Chusen." This masterpiece captures the spirit of prosperity, happiness, and luck that was characteristic of the Edo period. Instead of just illustrating the portrait, Okyo represents the deities playing different amusing games. The small boys frolic around among the gods, engaging with the sacred features associated with good fortune such as Daikokuten's magic hammer or the giant bag of money carried by Hotei. The presence of these children introduces an element of lively story that represents the theme of fertility and the well-being of families in the future. The painting employs a sophisticated combination of ink and watercolors, together with rich gold paint and opaque gouache. Painted in 1790, this is an example of Okyo at his absolute peak as an artist. From an early stage in his career, Okyo achieved enormous popularity through his commission for his great breakthrough work, The Seven Misfortunes and Seven Fortunes. However, after many years, revisiting the same lucky motifs such as the Shichifukujin demonstrates how his style had reached its fullest expression, skillfully combining Western three-dimensional perspective with traditional Japanese aesthetics.
The painting represents the Seven Lucky Gods, or Shichifukujin, a group associated in Japanese culture with good fortune, prosperity, happiness and protection. What makes this work especially interesting is that Maruyama Okyo does not present the deities as rigid or solemn religious figures. Instead, they are shown participating in lively activities and games while small boys move around them and interact with their symbolic objects. This creates a cheerful and playful atmosphere.
I think the painting communicates the idea that good fortune can be experienced through everyday happiness, play and social interaction rather than only through formal religious devotion. The children add a sense of energy and innocence, while the gods and their attributes connect the scene to wealth, wisdom, longevity and prosperity. The combination of ink, watercolours, gold paint and gouache on silk gives the work both delicacy and richness. The realistic treatment of the figures also reflects Okyo's interest in naturalism, while the decorative materials and traditional subject keep the painting firmly within Japanese artistic traditions. Overall, the work can be understood as a visual celebration of prosperity, happiness and the hope for good fortune.
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By: Ritika Kumari
From my perspective as an art educator, Maruyama Okyo’s A Fine Painting of the Seven Lucky Gods is a fascinating example of traditional Japanese painting that combines spirituality, storytelling, and natural observation. I particularly appreciate the lively interaction between the Seven Lucky Gods and the playful children, which creates movement and human warmth within the composition. The use of mixed media on silk, incorporating ink, watercolors, and gold paint, creates a refined and visually rich surface. Okyo’s realistic treatment of figures and gestures reflects his close observation of nature. For me, the painting is remarkable for its expressive composition, technical finesse, historical importance, and charming narrative quality.
