Antique Attendant to Guandi, Taoist God of War, China (16022)

Description

Guandi lived during the latter Han Dynasty and is one of China’s best known Taoist-Deities and its most revered military and historical hero canonized in 1504 as Guan Di, the Taoist God of War and Protector of China. According to Keith Stevens, he is “all things to all men, not only prayed to for protection and prosperity but also to solve all problems: personal, domestic, national, and universal.”  Chou-Tsang is Guandi’s sword bearer and often appears in a triad with Guandi and his adopted son Kwan P’ing. Many paintings portray a duo with Chou-Tsang behind. Dark skin tones and dressed in a lacquer gilt uniform wearing maille, he is portrayed in anjali mudra while facing Guandi. On a home altar or a temple shrine he was placed to Guandi’s left with his left foot forward ready to spring into action or his legs firmly planted on the ground. With expected minor chips, cracks, wear and paint losses, it is in very good condition although material is missing from left sleeve.

Sources

Keith Stevens, Chinese Gods: The Unseen World of Spirits and Demons, London, Collins and Brown Ltd, 1997.