Chaghan ebugen (English spelling)

Japanese: ツァガンエブゲン（英語表記）Chaghan ebugen

In Mongolian, it means "white old man." A god of fortune worshipped by the Mongolians. Also called Chagan Ebgen. This god of fortune is the same as the Chinese and Japanese god of longevity (Fukurokuju), and has a similar appearance, a long-headed, obese old man with a white beard, wearing a white robe, and holding a long stick. Among the Mongolians, he is still regarded as a god of good fortune, wealth, and longevity, but he was especially worshiped as the guardian of livestock. In the dance (cham, tsam) held during the puja at the Lamaist temple, a performer dressed as Tsaganeyebgen usually appears after a dancer dressed as a ferocious-looking guardian deity, and his light-hearted and humorous gestures are popular with the audience, and it is believed that people who are touched by the stick held by the performer during the performance will be blessed with good fortune, wealth, and longevity.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

モンゴル語で〈白い翁〉の意。モンゴル族の間で崇拝された福神。チャガンエブゲンともいう。この福神は中国や日本の寿老人(福禄寿)と同じもので，外形もよく類似し，白いあごひげを蓄えた長頭･肥満体の老人が白衣をまとい，長い杖を手にした姿をしている。モンゴル族の間でも福と禄と寿命をつかさどる神とみなされたことに変りがないが，とりわけ家畜の守護神として崇拝された。ラマ教寺院での法会のさいに催される跳舞(チャム，ツァム)では，獰猛な面相の護法神に扮した踊手の演技の後にこのツァガンエブゲンに扮した演者が登場するのが通例で，その軽妙でユーモラスなしぐさが観衆の人気を集め，またその演技中手に持つ杖で触れてもらった人は福と禄と寿命に恵まれると信じられた。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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