Billiken, a product called the "God of Doing Nothing"
This time, I would like to write about Billiken, whom I love dearly.
My encounter with Billiken began when I purchased a small statue I saw at an antique market. It is the common type with a golden pedestal, and it still radiates a presence on my desk. After the purchase, I looked up Billiken online and was surprised to find that there are quite a lot of episodes about him.
Did you know that Billiken, who is now firmly established as a symbol of the Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka, was actually a god born in America? He is a truly unique existence that cannot be fully defined as religion, art, or a character. However, there is something about his concept that I find quite appealing.
Created by an art teacher,
and spread throughout the world
The origin of Billiken dates back to 1908. It stems from Florence Pretz, an art teacher and illustrator in Kansas City, USA, who created a sculpture based on a "mysterious little spirit" she saw in a dream.
By 1909, Billiken had gained such popularity that over 200,000 units were sold in the United States and Canada, and it was developed into various products such as pottery, charms, and stuffed animals.
There are also stories that he was accepted not only in Japan but also among the Inuit in Alaska and ethnic minorities in Russia as a lucky charm, an amulet, or sometimes even as a traditional folk god.
What is embodied in the
"God of Things As They Ought to Be"
This statue embodies the philosophy of the "God of Things As They Ought to Be," and those words have been engraved on the pedestal of the Billiken statue from the beginning. Billiken is just sitting there naked, but he is still a god.
I personally interpret him as a "god who does nothing," but I feel that this Billiken philosophy, instead of offering general benefits like "wishes will come true" or "hard work will be rewarded," helps to settle the mind by "simply believing in what is there."
The power created by the message and the form
I think his creator, Florence Pretz, successfully incorporated this philosophy into the design.
Billiken's child-like sitting posture and gentle smile. All of these do not show strength or desire, but rather give shape to a sense of calmness and an attitude of acceptance that makes one feel that "it is okay to be as you are." It is understandable that Pretz had an interest in Eastern art and Japanese culture.
The role brought about by the form of an idol
I think Billiken embodies a stance where, rather than seeking results like "if you believe, such and such will come true," the "act of believing in something itself" has the power to bring mental stability.
And by having this tangible Billiken statue always nearby, one can draw out a mindset of accepting things as they are and organize one's thoughts.
Billiken is a product that is like my own "personal god," one that stands apart from many other objects of faith and gives me power just by "being there."