Door God Print Item Number: Edz994 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Pair of rectangular papers, each printed in black outline with a civil officer door god (如意加官), one type of civil door god (wen menshen; 文門神). The door god on part (b) wears a green robe with red and yellow patterns and the name of the printing shop 新元發 (san1 jyun4 faat3/Xīn yuán fā) appears near his face. The door god on part (a) wears a red robe with green and yellow patterns. They both hold a ritual wine vessel known as jue (爵) each. Faces and background are orange. White paper is left uncoloured in places. Figures are 58 cm high. (The gods would normally be shown facing each other.)
History Of Use
Known as menshen (门神, door gods), they are considered to protect homes from evil spirits. Prints depicting them are usually displayed on the door inside and outside the house during the Chinese Spring Festival (春节) or Lunar New Year. Such prints are thus known as nianhua (年画, new year pictures). Civil door gods would be displayed on the inner doors of the home.
Iconographic Meaning
Wen menshen 文門神 (Civil Door Gods).
Item History
- Made in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, China before 1976
- Collected between 1967 and 1976
- Owned by Graham E. Johnson before March 9, 1977
- Received from Graham E. Johnson (Donor) on March 9, 1977
What
- Name
- Door God Print
- Identification Number
- Edz994 a-b
- Type of Item
- Manufacturing Technique
- machine made ?, woodblock printed and stencilled
- Overall
- height 65.5 cm, width 38.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Graham E. Johnson
- Received from
- Graham E. Johnson (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, China
When
- Creation Date
- before 1976
- Collection Date
- between 1967 and 1976
- Ownership Date
- before March 9, 1977
- Acquisition Date
- on March 9, 1977
Other
- Item Classes
- works on paper
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0366/0021