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.
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Carved ancestor figure as an official sits on a backless chair with a decorative pedestal in official’s attire 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.
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.
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.
Mandarin ancestor official in court attire and hat holding up his belt of office. Rare consecration inscriptions on the back indicate the names of two families who pooled funds to commission, carve, and dedicate a sacred figure to their shared local temple or ancestral altar.
This excellently carved ancestor civilian official with gilt highlights was commissioned to be place on a home altar for veneration and impress those who viewed it and to honor the venerated ancestor’s persistence, success, status and power.
Unique and rare ancestor figure of a huntsman/soldier in the round standing on a domed pedestal, holding a matchlock musket wearing a warrior’s hat knee-length military jacket and military boots.
Finely carved ancestor displaying status symbols: official’s attire and hat, horseshoe chair with feet on pedestal. Painted and lacquered front and back in red, traces of gilt, colors of “fu” as a wish for wealth, health and long life, aged from years of use into a great patina.
This bare-footed folk art provincial image is a low/mid-ranking civil official or wealthily landowner was an accessible and powerful protective figure “of the people.” Consecrated with rare identifying inscriptions.
Masterfully crafted Taoist official with calm, sincere and expressive face with creases indicating his age and wisdom of his senior status. Holds ritual cup with the elixir of immortality, a wish for a long and happy afterlife. Mounted on an acrylic stand.
Shiwan stoneware glazed sculptures of fruit symbolizing life and new beginnings to place on temple or home altar. They augment plates of fresh stacked fresh fruit to honor ancestors. These pears symbolize long life.
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 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…
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Taoist priest in formal attire holding a cup with the elixir of health and longevity and small ingot symbolizing wish for prosperity and wealth. Characters on base are his name and the mythical “turtle spirit” that symbolizes longevity,
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