Door God Print

Item number Edz990 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 door god (wen menshen; 文門神) figure in red, yellow and green. White paper left uncoloured in some places; background and faces are orange. Door god on part (a) is female, known as a goddess/immortal bringing sons (天仙送子). She holds a fly whisk in her left hand, and a baby in her right. The god in part (b) is male, Number One Scholar (状元及第; the title given to a scholar achieved the first place in the imperial exam). His right hand is raised. The name of the printing shop 新元發 (san1 jyun4 faat3/Xīn yuán fā) appears on the hanging ornament on the scholar. The figures are 46 cm high.

History Of Use

Known as menshen (門神, door gods), they are considered to protect homes from evil spirits. This type of civil door gods would be displayed on the inner doors of the home as a prayer that the newlyweds would have a child early and the child would be number one in school. Civil door gods would be displayed on the inner doors of the home.

Iconographic Meaning

Wen menshen 文門神 (Civil Door Gods). The pair is called 状元及第天仙送子, Number One Scholar (the title given to a scholar who achieves first place in the imperial exam) and goddess/immortal bringing sons.