Antique Kitchen God and His Wife (16850D-BME) $695

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. Both figures clasp hands at their chests covered in ritual cloth to symbolize holding a hu tablet as seen by its indentation and wore official robes and hats to indicate their status. This fine pair are mirror-images of each other seated on backless chairs with multi-sided pedestals and reflect the reverence and solemnity of their responsibility. They  were covered in red (the color of fu), and lacquer which has darkened naturally over time and from exposure to candle and incense smoke. The cavity on male figure has its original covering bung, while the bung on the female is missing, exposing contents inside – a thin string tied around the script placed by a monk when it was consecrated during an eye-opening ceremony.  Kitchen Gods radiate warmth, especially when placed near the  stove and make unique house warming or wedding gifts and add positive chi to any household.

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