Japanese legends, Davis retelling
Benten
Davis introduces Benten as a goddess of love, beauty and eloquence. One depicted form has eight arms and rides a dragon or serpent. An Enoshima legend makes her the bride of a destructive dragon. Her influence changes its conduct toward the neighbouring people.
Also known as Goddess of Eloquence
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In the sources
Account in the source
TraditionalDavis introduces Benten as a goddess of love, beauty and eloquence. One depicted form has eight arms and rides a dragon or serpent.
Further detail
TraditionalAn Enoshima legend makes her the bride of a destructive dragon. Her influence changes its conduct toward the neighbouring people.
Context & interpretation
The entry concerns Davis’s description and Enoshima legend, not a comprehensive account of Benzaiten traditions. The eight-armed image is one form in the source. The dragon’s reform and the island’s origin remain attributed narrative events rather than verified geographical history.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
the Goddess of Love, Beauty, and EloquenceOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Davis, Myths & Legends of Japan, active reader leaf 228
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0228
- Original scan leaf
- 254
- Recorded leaf number
- 254
- Current Reader position
- 227
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
married the dragonOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Davis, Myths & Legends of Japan, active reader leaf 229
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0229
- Original scan leaf
- 255
- Recorded leaf number
- 255
- Current Reader position
- 228
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
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