Antique God of Wealth Caishen, China (19313BCK) $745

Description

Chinese wealth gods have been ubiquitous, appearing and venerated on a home altar, temples, and business establishments. States Yang (p. 76) worship of wealth gods was one of the most common cult practices in China among all strata of society from the poor to the wealthy, especially the merchant class and was fostered by a pressing desire for wealth among all classes who recognized the difficulty to attain it through individual human efforts and the uncontrollable and random effects of chance and luck. Many Taoist-deities specialized in different aspects of life; some addressed acquiring wealth while others were responsible for imposing social and moral restrictions on how it was acquired. Caishen was one of the most revered Gods of Wealth. An antique-Chinese-wood-carving of a wealth god was placed in a position of honor on a home altar along with other house and religious gods and required attention and veneration with periodic offerings and prayers.  Attributes identifying him are his horseshoe chair which indicates his high status and elaborate officials-attire and headwear. The plain coin on his cap is a wish for fortune and prosperity while the pairs of coins on his shoulders, knees and waist have have an additional meaning prosperity as their raised carvedcharacters are symbols of longevity. The rectangular “silver” tael in his left hand symbolizes wealth while the  red and gilt are colors of blessings or fu (health, wealth, long life, love of virtue, a peaceful death).  During the two-week Chinese Lunar New Years celebration, incense is burned in front of home altar images as well as in Caishen temples and the traditional Cantonese New Years greeting is “ Gong hei fat choy,” or ‘Wishing you happiness and prosperity” and “May you become rich.” The open rear cavity indicates it was consecrated ny a Taoist priest. Except for old, stabilized insect damage to the base, this exceptional carving is in excellent condition. This is part of the VA Deities-and-Legends Collection. It is mounted on a modern uniquely crafted hand finished frosted acrylic base.

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Sources

Jonathan Chamberlain, Chinese Gods, Selangor, Pelanduk Publications, Malaysia, 1997.
Stephan Feuchtwang, Popular Religion in China: The Imperial Metaphor, London, Routledge Curzon, 2001.

Fabrizio Pregadio, The Encyclopedia of Taoism, Volume 1, New York, Routledge, 2008. 

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

Keith G. Stevens, Images of Asia: Chinese Mythological Gods, New York, Oxford University Press, 2001.

C.K Yang, Religion in Chinese Society, Berkley, University of California Press, 1961