Door Gods Yu Lei and Shen Tu – Catchers of Evil Spirits and Ghosts (Diptych)
Chinese
Description
Subject Matter:
This figure is one of the door gods. The Chinese door gods are worshipped as spiritual guardians of the entrance. They are known for their trustworthiness, strength, and loyalty, and are suposed to keep evil spirits from entering. Door gods normally face each other in pairs because it is considered bad luck to place them back-to-back. The clouds in the background represent the celestial realm, since clouds were created in between heaven and earth.
Physical Description:
This panel is the left panel of a diptych that features a figure with red skin, a large black beard, and an ornamented staff. He is dressed in a colorful robe and elaborate headress, and is facing to the right. Background is blue, red, and white with a cloud pattern.
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