Japanese · No. 012

Benzaiten's White Serpent

Real myth

Benzaiten's White Serpent
Seeing one is luck. Harming one is a curse.
Rarity
Common
Category
Monster
ATK
900
DEF
1000
Level
3
Type
Serpent
Element
Light
Constellations
Sun · Leviathan

The myth

Benzaiten, goddess of music, eloquence and waters, came to Japan from the Indian Sarasvati and is one of the Seven Lucky Gods. Her shrines nearly always stand near water, on islands and lakes such as Enoshima and Chikubushima. She is linked to serpents: as Uga-Benzaiten she bears on her head Ugajin, a deity with a snake's body and an old man's head. So in many places white snakes are held to be her messengers. Seeing one is said to bring prosperity, and killing one, misfortune; in Iwakuni white snakes are even protected as a natural monument.

Why it has this power

A Common level-3 Light Serpent with 900 ATK and 1000 DEF: more blessing than threat, so its defense exceeds its attack. Light comes from its role as divine messenger; Sun and Leviathan join the glow of luck to Benzaiten's waters. It is one of the three materials of the Eight Vats of Sake rite.

Did you know

In Japan some people keep a shed snakeskin in their wallet hoping to attract money, a belief tied to Benzaiten and her serpents.

Connections

  • In Aiko, Dojo Apprentice's deck
  • In Kenji, Kamo River Fisherman's deck
  • In Hanae, Wandering Miko's deck
  • In Kaguya, Guardian of the Torii's deck

Where to get it

  • Campaign drop: Kenji, Kamo River Fisherman (Archipelago of the Kami) — grade C: 15% · grade D: 13%
  • Daily Offering: 0% per pack (Common 64% per card)
  • Welcome Pack: 0.97% per pack (Common 70% per card)
  • Traveler's Pack: 0.88% per pack · 5.2% in the themed pack (Common 64% per card)
  • Bronze Reliquary: 0.86% per pack · 5.1% in the themed pack (Common 62% per card)
  • Silver Reliquary: 0.67% per pack · 4% in the themed pack (Common 49% per card)
  • Golden Reliquary: 0.46% per pack · 2.7% in the themed pack (Common 33% per card)
  • Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.69% of days · 150 gold
  • Craft with card dust: 40 dust
  • Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

  1. Benten — Encyclopaedia Britannica — The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
  2. Seven Lucky Gods — World History Encyclopedia — Mark Cartwright
  3. Ichikishimahime — Encyclopedia of Shinto — Kokugakuin University