Motoshige - Kozuka with Daikoku's Hammer - Walters 51633 - Mark A

The hammer in the middle of this kozuka belongs to Daikoku, one of the seven gods of good fortune. Rats are also associated with Daikoku. This design has one rat on either side of the hammer. The small, round objects at the lower right are sacred jewels. Most of Daikoku's attributes are derived from Shinto sources, but the sacred jewels come from Buddhism. Like the other gods of good fortune, Daikoku is a folk god. Practices connected to him incorporate teachings from multiple religious traditions. The back of the kozuka is decorated with incised lines that resemble cat scratches ("neko-gake"). The kozuka is signed on the lower edge.