Antique Rare Consecrated Carved Gilt Earth God Tudi Gong, China (16332K)

Description

Tudi Gong is the Chinese Earth or Land God referred to by many names and often fondly referred to by commoners as “Grandpa.” He is a syncretic deity and tutelary deity, responsible for administrating and protecting the affairs of small towns and villages, especially issues concerning agriculture or wealth, and is believed to control the prosperity and fortune of common people. Even today he remains of one of the most widely worshipped Taoist deities especially in rural China and Taiwan, where he is traditionally enshrined on an indoor or outdoor home altar, under the main altar, or below the house door or in temples in urban and rural areas. Historically, every provincial village and local community had its own unique Earth God, who was believed to have actively lived among and interacted with the community residents he protected.

Finely hand-carved from a single block of dense wood, depicting the benevolent Taoist Earth God and local guardian of prosperity, Tudi Gong, seated on an elaborate horseshoe-back armchair. This typical Tudi Gong has a kindly face and gentle features with well-defined lips, heavy-lidded half-closed eyes, a benevolent smile and prominent cheeks covered by a flowing beard. He wears an officials-attire: a high, squared official hat that flows down his back, a three-quarter jacket fastened below his waist with long sleeves flowing  and a deeply carved skirt tied at the waist by a double belt. The provincial hand-painted details, innclude geometric cloud and floral scroll medallions against a deep blue field, worn away in areas to reveal underlying coats of rich red cinnabar pigment and brilliant gold leaf. The bright red robe trim signifies fu – the  good luck and prosperity linked to Tudi Gong. He holds scholar’s offering cup in his right hand and his left rests on a large gold ingot on his knee, symbolizing his role as a dispenser of wealth.  It is in very good condition, although much of the pigments have been lost because of age and use. The back was also painted and has a carved open cavity indicating it was consecrated.

AI Summary

While Tudi Gong statues are common, a 12-inch, hand-carved provincial wood statue from the 18th to early 19th century that has escaped destruction and modern restoration is rare. Most wooden statues from this era were destroyed during China’s modernization or lost to natural wood rot, termites, and fire. Many surviving statues were stripped to raw wood by dealers to appeal to Western tastes, and  having its original painted robes, gesso layers, and cinnabar pigment makes it a prized collector’s item.

Click here for the Blog Tudi Gong: the Taoist and Popular Religion Earth God and for the Blog Consecrating Wooden Images to Imbue Them with A Life Force