Door God Print Item Number: 1154/1 a from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Print on paper depicting a civil official door god (如意加官), one type of civil door god (wen menshen;文門神). He is shown wearing a headdress, with a moustache and goatee. He is holding a scepter known as huban (笏板) and a ritual wine vessel known as jue (爵). He wears red, yellow and blue-green clothing, with a bird depicted on it; he faces left. A yellow, black and red tiger, coming down from the mountain, amongst blue-green and red foliage is pictured at the bottom of the print. This print would be shown paired with 1154/1 b.
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.
Iconographic Meaning
Wen menshen文門神 (Civil Door Gods). This print is a pair with another print (1154/1 b), and together they are called “Promoting Rank” (加官进爵).
Item History
- Made in Macau
- Owned by Elizabeth L. Johnson before July 10, 1986
- Received from Elizabeth L. Johnson (Donor) on July 10, 1986
What
- Name
- Door God Print
- Identification Number
- 1154/1 a
- Type of Item
- Overall
- height 162.0 cm, width 39.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Elizabeth L. Johnson
- Received from
- Elizabeth L. Johnson (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Macau
When
- Ownership Date
- before July 10, 1986
- Acquisition Date
- on July 10, 1986
Other
- Item Classes
- works on paper
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 1154/0001 a