Door God Print Item Number: 806/10 c from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Vertical print depicting a dragon in orange, green, red, yellow, and purple surrounded by clouds. The image is printed in black ink on a rectangular piece of light brown-yellow paper; the colours were added in paint. The dragon's head is at the bottom; his tail ends at the top.
History Of Use
Known as menshen (門神, 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 (春節) 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.
Narrative
Collected by Johnson at Kun Iam Tong (观音堂), or Guan Yin Temple, Macau (澳門), in 1981. This print would be paired with print 806/10 d. It was also likely meant to be paired with a civil door god print, (for example, a print like 1154/1 b).
Item History
- Made in Macau
- Collected during 1981
- Owned by Graham E. Johnson before January 8, 1982
- Received from Graham E. Johnson (Donor) on January 8, 1982
What
- Name
- Door God Print
- Identification Number
- 806/10 c
- Type of Item
- Overall
- height 109.4 cm, width 39.0 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
- Macau
When
- Collection Date
- during 1981
- Ownership Date
- before January 8, 1982
- Acquisition Date
- on January 8, 1982
Other
- Item Classes
- works on paper
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0806/0010 c