Ancestor Worship

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ancestor worship as the “veneration of deceased ancestors who are considered still a part of the family and whose spirits are believed to have the power to intervene in the affairs of the living.” Based on love and respect for the deceased, it is the belief that showing respect and loyalty to the deceased is a reciprocal agreement: the living engage in ceremonial rites and make offerings that provide the deceased happiness and well-being in the afterlife in exchange for the departed protecting and looking after the welfare of the family. Although not required, having some type of physical memorial is often an important ancestor worship component that can be displayed in variety of forms: altars, shrines, plaques or tablets, sculptures, masks, gravestones, tombs, monuments, buildings and other designated places. While ancestor worship is often associated with the Confucian concept of filial piety, it is practiced in much of the world, in many religious traditions and among most socioeconomic groups. In China the concept of ancestor worship as a demonstration of piety originally espoused by Confucius is an essential belief and everyday practice among all major Chinese religious – Buddhism, Taoism and other folk religions. The Chinese family unit traditionally consisted of the deceased as well as the living and worshiping one’s ancestors has been a means of strengthening the family and Chinese society. As the “residence of ancestral spirits”, the family altar/shrine 祠堂, with ancestor carvings and tablets is the commemorative site for daily prayers, rituals and offerings. In contemporary settings ancestor worship can be viewed as a connection with our past, and perhaps reaping the benefits our forefathers provided us.

Showing 13–24 of 30 results

  • Sale!

    Antique Ming Dynasty Ceramic Horseshoe Chair, China #3331BOK

    Original price was: $685.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Horseshoe chairs were considered a sign of rank used by officials and often ancestral figures were portrayed sitting in them to reflect their high status. This well-modeled green glaze ceramic mingqi of a horseshoe chair is decorated with a yellow glaze imitating caning and the decorative carved circular design on the splat. It pairs perfectly with  Ming Dynasty Earthenware Horseshoe Chair 3330 and together would add to a fine collection of miniature Chinese ceramics.

  • Sale!

    Antique Ming Earthenware Horseshoe Chair, China #3330BOK

    Original price was: $685.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Horseshoe chairs were considered a sign of rank used by officials and often ancestral figures were portrayed sitting in them to reflect their high status. This well-modeled green glaze ceramic mingqi of a horseshoe chair is decorated with a yellow glaze imitating caning and the decorative carved circular design on the splat. It pairs well with item Ming Earthenware Horseshoe Chair 3331. This would be a fine addition to a collection of antique ceramics or simply a beautiful decorative piece to brighten a small space.

  • Sale!

    Antique Official Holding His Belt of Office, China, 18th Century, #16470BKE

    Original price was: $535.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 10.3″ W: 6″ D: 3.5″ | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL US!

    This  ancestor statue emphasizes his status as an official. official’s pose holding us his belt of office, official’s hat and boots, worn only by those who could afford them. high on his forehead which also represents his officialdom, as the word “hat” (guan) is a homophone of the word “official.” The inscriptions on the back of the chair which are too faded to read indicate it was consecrated and probably were a dedication from the family who commissioned  it to placed on the home altar.

  • Sale!

    Antique Official in Red Robes with a Hu Tablet, China #16851BOK

    Original price was: $875.00.Current price is: $475.00.
    H:  15.5″    W: 6.125 ” 4.125   D:  ”    |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This carved ancestor figure portrayed as an official sits on a backless chair with a decorative pedestal in official’s attire: a high collared red robe, double belt above and below his ample stomach and holding a long slender curved hu-tablet,  all signs of his office and status. He is vibrantly painted in red, the color of fu, as a wish for prosperity and status.

  • Antique Official Showing His Belt of Office (19047LHE) SPECIAL PRICE

    $985.00
    H: 15″ W: 6.5″ D: 5.5″  | EMAIL [email protected] OR CALL 213-568-3030 FOR SHIPPING COST

    This excellently carved civilian official with gilt highlights was commissioned by a family to place on a home altar for veneration and to impress those who viewed it. The imposing ancestor figure grasps his belt of office to show his pride in passing examinations to become a civil official, which leads to a life of rank and prosperity for him and his family. Statues like this are an affirmation of persistence, success, status and power and they honor those who display these characteristics.

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    Antique Rare Carving of a Huntsman with Rifle, China 16743WHK

    Original price was: $315.00.Current price is: $275.00.
    H: 9 ”    W:  3.625″    D: 3.5 ”    |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This ancestor figure of a huntsman in the round is unique, standing on a  domed pedestal, facing half right holding a flint lock, wearing a hunting coat, a two-level hat,  traditional under- and outer-garment, and thick boots. As the noted scholar on Chinese wood carvings stated, a similar figure like this “unusual and extraordinary ancestral image of a huntsman with a flintlock gun, was the only ancestral image in his vast collection which “depicts the calling of the deceased.”

  • Sale!

    Antique Rarre Nanhai Guanyin with Attendants and Donor, China #16210BEME

    Original price was: $5,900.00.Current price is: $3,900.00.
    H: 34″  W: 12″  D: 15″  |  CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING.

    This rare and intriguing Nanhai Guanyin sits in her cave with internal layers at Putuo. On the top is the donor who commissioned  the piece, seldomly placed within the Guanyin tableau.Two levels of attendant pairs flank her: the upper with her two acolytes Longnu, (the Dragon Princess) on her right holding a flaming gem, and Shan Tsai (Sudhana) on her left with hands, now missing, clasped in anjali mudra of reverence and two generic attendants are on the on the bottom. This work is truly remarkable in its execution and iconography.

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    Antique Seated Ancestor Official, China #16289BME

    Original price was: $650.00.Current price is: $325.00.
    H: 7.25” W: 4.625” D: 3.5” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This finely carved ancestor wears official’s attire and hat and sits in a horseshoe chair with his feet on a pedestal to emphasize his power and status, although he appears to be a lovwer level civilian official.  It is masterfully carved and lacquered and is painted on front and back in red  with traces of gilt – all propitious colors of “fu” as a wish for wealth, health, good fortune, long life and long life – that has faded over it years of use into a great patina.

  • Sale!

    Antique Stoneware Fruit Offering, Shiwan, China #19330

    Original price was: $375.00.Current price is: $295.00.
    H: 8.75″  DIA: 6.75 ” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This delicate and vibrant Qing dynasty Shiwan stoneware glazed sculpture represents fresh fruit that symbolizes life and new beginnings would have been placed on a temple or home altar to represent and/or augment plates of stacked fresh fruit. Fresh fruit symbolizes life and new beginnings. These offerings are still made to honor the family’s ancestors, communicate with deities and bring prosperity, good luck and health to the home and would be an auspicious and decorative addition to any home settings where family members past and present are  honored.

  • Sale!

    Antique Taoist Official with the Elixir of Life #16312BOK

    Original price was: $450.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    Ht: 9″ W: 5″ D: 3.5″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    During the Ming and Qing dynasties small images of Taoist officials and priests were often shown holding a cup of the elixir of life to place on home altars along with ancestor figures, house gods and other religious images to bring blessings (fu) to the household. By commissioning  figures like this artful carving, families honored their ancestors and met their filial piety duties. Mounted on an acrylic stand.

  • Antique Taoist Official/Priest with Hu Tablet, China (14001ZSK) $395

    $395.00

    When ancestral images are taken out of context they are very difficult to identify so we describe them in generic terms as a Chinese Officials or Taoist Officials. This antique-Chinese-wood-carving may represent the noted historical figure the principal regent Dorgon of the first Qing Emperor Shunzhi who ruled from 1643-1650 as a”quasi” emperor based  on…

  • Antique/Vintage Carved House Deity, China (7507QOK) $295

    $295.00

    While major deities such as Guandi were officially sanctioned by government and religious authorities, many popular deities and historic figures were integrated into Popular Religion beliefs where they were assimilated and greatly modified with local traditions and iconographic depictions such as this. We assume this is Guandi, one of the most revered Chinese deities based…

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