Door gods with wishes for prosperity (fu)
Overall (each): H. 23 7/16 × W. 13 3/8 in. (59.5 × 34 cm)
Door gods are one of the most ubiquitous of auspicious themes seen in popular prints created for the redecoration of houses as part of traditional New Year festivities. Prints of door gods come in pairs, to be pasted on the two doors of the main entrance of a traditional Chinese home. Such a public positioning is meant to keep out evil and atrract prosperity. The figures face each other in order to better observe everything that passes through the door.
The two most frequently seen door gods represent the generals Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong, who are celebrated for having saved a Tang dynasty (618-906) emperor from the threat of demons. Each can be identified by his weapon: Yuchi Gong holds a steel whip and Qin Qiong grasps a sword. Popular prints became an important part of folk tradition nearly a thousand years ago, and they remain so today.
These prints are used for residential decoration and viewing pleasure, and can be purchased throughout the year. Varied in subject, color, and format, the prints are often glued on doors, windows, walls, pillars, furniture, and any place outdoors around the house. Celebratory themes and images pictured on the prints bear wishes for a happy New Year, a long life, health, fortune, continuation of the family line, and protections against evil-many of the prominent themes embedded in symbols on Chinese art.
