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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.

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.

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.