Door God Print

Item number Edz994 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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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.