Door God Print Item Number: 946/45 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Print of a civilian official door god (如意加官), one type of civil door god (wen menshen; 文门神). Shown in a long robe with a small black goatee, a long black moustache and a thin, triangular black beard. He holds a military hat with a hanging banner with writing on it, 一品当朝 (To be the highest court official) in his left hand. In his right hand he holds a ruyi (如意, scepter). He wears a civic official's headdress, that has dark purple on the lower portion, purple-pink on the upper portion, and orange wing-like flaps, one at either side. The robe is red, green, purple, turquoise, purple-pink, orange and black. The figure faces to his left (viewer's right). The background is plain paper. The print is vertically rectangular.
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.
Specific Techniques
The print was stenciled, then woodblock printed with colours, with outlines painted in black ink.
Narrative
This print is meant to be paired with another print, 946/44.
Item History
- Made in Mianzhu, Sichuan, China before 1926
- Collected between 1906 and 1926
- Owned by Edith Sibley
- Owned by D. H. Reed, G. A. Reed and T. Gordon Reed before February 16, 1984
- Received from D. H. Reed (Donor), G. A. Reed (Donor) and T. Gordon Reed (Donor) on February 16, 1984
What
- Name
- Door God Print
- Identification Number
- 946/45
- Type of Item
- Manufacturing Technique
- stenciled and woodblock printed
- Overall
- height 68.7 cm, width 48.2 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Edith Sibley, D. H. Reed, G. A. Reed and T. Gordon Reed
- Received from
- D. H. Reed (Donor), G. A. Reed (Donor) and T. Gordon Reed (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Mianzhu, Sichuan, China
When
- Creation Date
- before 1926
- Collection Date
- between 1906 and 1926
- Ownership Date
- before February 16, 1984
- Acquisition Date
- on February 16, 1984
Other
- Item Classes
- works on paper
- Condition
- poor
- Accession Number
- 0946/0045