Door God Print Item Number: 946/44 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Print of a civil official door god (如意加官), one type of civil door god (wen menshen; 文门神). The man is shown in a long robe, with small black goatee, a long black moustache, and a long, thin, black beard. He holds a military hat with a hanging banner with writing on it, 天官赐福 (Blessings from the Heavenly officials) in his right hand. In his left he holds a ruyi (如意, scepter). He wears a hat that has dark purple on the lower portion, purple-pink on the upper portion, and orange wing-like flaps pointing out to either side. The robe is red, green, purple, turquoise, purple-pink, orange and black. Figure faces right (viewer's left). 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.

Narrative

This print is meant to be paired with another print, 946/45.

Specific Techniques

The print was stenciled, then woodblock printed with colours, with outlines painted in black ink.

Item History

What

Name
Door God Print
Identification Number
946/44
Type of Item
print
Manufacturing Technique
woodblock printed
Overall
height 89.0 cm, width 47.0 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
fair
Accession Number
0946/0044