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Description

Print depicting three gods known as the Sanxing or Three Star Gods (三星), Fu, Lu and Shou (Happiness, Fortune, and Longevity) with two children and a peacock feather fan behind. The god Lu at the back has a white and pink face that has a red mouth, a small black goatee, a long black moustache, and a black beard in strands. He is holding a curved yellow object and is wearing clothing that has a green cloud pattern on an orange background. The god Fu to the left side has a white and pink face that has a red mouth, a small black goatee, a long black moustache, and a black beard in strands. He is holding a yellow staff and is wearing clothing that has an orange flower with dark blue stems pattern on a green background. The god Shou at the front right side has a large forehead, a black head, a pink face, a long white moustache, a small white goatee, and a white bushy beard. He is holding an orange staff and is wearing yellow clothing. The child at the back right side has a white and pink face. He has his hair done up with dark blue and orange ornaments, and is wearing dark blue clothing. The child at the front middle has a white and pink face. He is holding a yellow scroll that has two black Chinese characters 奉旨 (by the imperial edict) and is wearing clothing that has a green flower with blue leaves pattern on a red background. Background is simply the plain paper. The print is vertically rectangular.

Narrative

This set of prints (1090/1-13) was collected by Abbie Lyon Sharman, the sister of the donor’s grandmother, Sophia Lyon Fahs.

Cultural Context

Nianhua (年画, new year pictures) are usually printed on plain backgrounds, but some prints from Yangliuqing (杨柳青), known for the production of nianhua have background designs with patterns. The Yangliuqing style is known for finishing details, especially on the face.

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).