Antique Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16850D)

Description

While most families have had prints or paper-cuts of the Kitchen God (Zao Shen) with or without his wife above their stove, carved images were owned by wealthier families. The Kitchen God is syncretic as a Taoist, Popular Religion and Buddhist tutelary deity, protector of the home who was responsible for making sure there was always food for the family, but he also observed and noted the behavior and morality of the people in household on the hu tablets they held. On Chinese New Year Zao Shen ascends to the heavens (his wife stays home) to report to the Jade Emperor where a favorable report brings blessings, good fortune and continued life, and a poor one brings misfortune or possible death to family members.

This pair is a streamlined virtual mirror-images seated on backless chairs on multi-sided pedestals, wear simplified officials’ robes held by simple long double layered sashes without designs. Both have clasped hands at their chests covered in ritual cloth, a Taoist pose symbolizing the grasping of a small vertical hu tablet, although the small holes here cannot accommodate one. Both their faces, flowing robes and hats are finely and deeply carved and are represented with requisite reverence and solemnity for deities who hold the future of multiple generations in their hands.

The carvings were covered in red (the color of fu ) pigment and lacquer but, as common with Chinese lacquer, have darkened naturally over time and even more rapidly on an altar exposed to candle and incense smoke regularly burned to honor them. The cavity on male figure contains its original flat cover bung, while the one on the female figure is missing, exposing the contents inside – a thin string tied around the script placed there by a monk during an “eye opening ceremony” to consecrate the pieces he pieces are in very good condition consistent with age and use.

In recent years there has been much renewed interest in antique carved Kitchen Gods, but they are now nearly impossible to find, especially as a matched pair. They make unique and wonderful gifts for weddings, house warmings or just to add positive “chi” to any household.

Click here for the Blog Consecrating Wooden Images to Imbue Them with A Life Force.