Shichifukujin are the seven gods that bring good luck. They are representative of gods and holy persons in Buddhism, Shintoism and Taoism and are often drawn riding in a treasure ship. It has been said that in Japan, imitating a historical story of seven holy men in ancient China, people put together seven gods of good luck and became to believe in them. Shichifukujin became widely known in the Muromachi Period (1338-1573). Nowadays, at temples and shrines with shichifukujin connections, people pray for long life and family well-being, and merchants, hoping for business success, display shichifukujin pictures.
Oni are imaginary symbols of evil. Their original form was first delineated in "Kojiki"(the Record of Ancient Matters), completed in 712 A.D., and they have since appeared in many historical writings and in folktales. As generations passed, the notion of oni was influenced by on'yodo(divination by the principles of Yin and Yang and Buddhism, and they took on a variety of forms. Generally, they are depicted as humans with horns and fangs, as naked but for tiger skin around their haunches, and as beings of herculean strength with fearsome facial features. The bean scattering at the eve of the first day of spring is carried out to drive these oni out of home, and to invite good fortune in. The word oni is often used metaphorically in everyday life; for example, in tag, the one who is "it" is called oni and ruthless people are often compared to oni.