moon shan (Print)

These images are pasted one on each of vertical double doors typical of south Chinese houses, facing each other. They are pasted there at New Year and remain during the year. They are also used on doors of temples and ancestral halls. They are believed to guard the building.

new year

Gods represent door gods, guardian spirits.

Pair of rectangular papers, each printed in black outline with a civil class door god, part (b), in green, red, and yellow. Faces and background are orange. White paper is left uncoloured in places. God (b) faces left and in his left hand holds a mace. In his right he holds a wine cup. Part (a) the god is reversed, and is wearing red. Figures are 58 cm. high.