Japanese Mythology: Benten

In Japanese mythology Benten was a sea goddess, giver of wealth, romantic happiness and the protector of sailors and children. She was a daughter of the Dragon King and is often shown riding or accompanied by a dragon or sea serpent. Some say she would use white dragons as messengers. In Japanese mythology, she is shown as having 8 arms, two of them in the prayer position. This hints at her real origin in India where she was called Sarasvati.

In Japan mythology is a part of everyday life. It's legends tie the people and places of today with the past. There is one myth about a dragon with a bad temper who was eating the children in a village now called Koshigoe. Benten, hearing of this in her home in Lake Biwa, decided to put an end to it. The villagers saw an eruption in the sea near Koshigoe and Benten appeared in the sky above the flames. The eruption created the island of Enoshima and Benten stepped down there from the clouds. On the island, she married the dragon and changed his awful ways. The children of Koshigoe were now safe, and the people built a shrine to Benten on Enoshima.

This is not merely Japanese mythology, the island of Enoshima really exists, and there is a shrine to Benten there. During low tide Enoshima is a peninsula connected to the mainland, during high tide it is an island again.

footer for japanese mythology page