Historically deities and deified humans have played a significant role in Asia the spiritual, cultural and daily life activities. In China and India, these beings serve a significant role in human activities by monitoring individual’s activities and responding with rewards or punishment. Deities and legends are propitiated in temples and home altars and shrines with offerings to protect and aid the living. The large pantheon of Chinese major and minor deities and legendary figures have been worshiped since ancient times. Gods created the world and humans and keep everything safe and well-functioning. Gods and deified legendary humans live the heavenly realms of immortality and are actively involved with human activities from intimate moments to events of national importance. Along with ancestors, gods have been a bridge between the living and the deceased and are revered and propitiated to watch over the living. The most venerated Chinese gods are the Jade Emperor, Queen Mother of the West, the Eight Immortals, Guanyin, Matsu, and the gods of wealth, war, literature, and happiness. Although outlawed as superstition in 1949 by the Communist Party, deities and legendary figures are still worshipped in Chinese homes world wide..
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This pair is VA’s most unique and finely crafted Kitchen God couple. Wearing beautifully carved robes, clasping Hu tablets, they have approachable features and subtly smiling lips. The painted character on the base is a wish for “happiness.” These exceptional consecrated pieces are in excellent condition with a fine patina.
This single statue portrays the Kitchen God and his Wife on one stand which is rare and indicates their close and lasting relationship as the protectors of the home and family. The Kitchen God and his wife were placed above the stove, a central part of the household to view and report about the morality of the family members to the Jade emperor at Chinese New Year and ahve their fate determined for the coming year. His serene face has an uncharacteristic smile Their bright colors have faded naturally into a smooth warm patina which adds comfort and positive feng sui to any kitchen decor.
This Mazu, the protector of sea farers, is portrayed as the imperially sanctioned “Empress of Heaven” seated on an elaborate horseshoe shaped dragon throne, hands clasped symbolically holding a hu tablet, adorned with elegant dragon robes, an official’s girdle, a flat-topped Empress headdress and small feet resting on a pair of gilt fu lions. Meant to be seen from all sides this beautiful carving is decorated on front and back.
H: 9.25” W: 5.75” D: 2.25” | FREE SHIPPING!
This antique-Chinese-wood-carving is a hand-carved Nuo Opera mask from Southern China of a smiling woman with a slender face, delicate features and hair in a topknot. She is a zhengshen, a friendly female deity (shen) with a kind, honest nature and a gentle disposition and a symbol of the power of good capable of defeating evil. Most Nuo masks are brightly painted, but the age and heavy use of this one has resulted in paint losses. Different colored bases under the reddish-brown indicate it was repainted and reused a number of times. The bright red lips have faded and areas around the eyes, mouth, nose and hair reveal what may be an original first layer of white gesso. Mask enthusiasts will appreciate the resulting paint and lacquer layers which tell the story of this mask’s colorful history, and, yes, the pun is intended. In very good condition for its age and use and for its journey surviving China’s modernization, masks like these were initially considered ethnic folk-art offerings to the gods and part of the VA Deities-and-Legends collection.
This amusing antique Nuo Opera mask portrays Tudi Gong, the benevolent Earth god with a smiling animated face, long eyebrows, a hemp beard and large ears wearing a high decorative hat. Tudi is a zhengshen, a god who is kindly, honest with a gentle disposition, symbolizing the great power of good, through which evil can be defeated. Nuo was popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties and although they are still performed in rural areas, there are few remaining troupes.
Chinese puppet theatre thrived, educated and entertained people with puppets that usually had detachable heads. A very popular figure, the Queen Mother of the West is one of the highest ranking female Taoist deities venerated by women as a powerful, independent deity embodying yin (female energy) who they prayed to for health and long life. Her complex elaborate headdress includes a large outstretched tortoise atop her iconic symbol, the phoenix, all flanked by two nagas under an arch bordered with a scale like finish, a truly unique and impressive image. She is mounted on a modern contemporary frosted acrylic base.
The Queen Mother of the West is one of the most significant Taoist female deities and a patron deity of woman who still pray to her on her birthday for health and longevity.This charming image sits on a backless throne with decorated pedestal, her iconic phoenix in her crown. Her left hand is in karana mudra to cast out demons and negative energy. As it was consecrated it probably wasplaced on a home altar for personal devotion.
Given its size and quality, this rare and exquisite Queen Mother of the West probably was placed in a local temple or village/family clan setting. She is the Taoist deity who grants immortality, is the patron deity of women, controls the length of lives, and cultivates of virtue. This magnificent carving portrays her on a horse with a magnificent headdress centered by her iconic striking phoenix holding a cup with the elixir of immortality
In this Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) image, her significance as one of the most important and powerful Chinese goddesses is indicated by her large size in comparison to her regal horse adorned with a wide blanket, prominent headgear and a double-row harness with a decorative medallion. She wears her characteristic headdress with a phoenix and her face is framed by abundant hair, pendulous ears and dangling earrings. Her right hand is up in a mudra called mushti , the fist “hand seal” by Taoists representing force, power and determination. She is worshipped today in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other overseas Chinese communities.
This provincial carving is the Queen Mother of the West, the most powerful female Taoist deity who is associated with all aspects of the female force (yin) : metal (one of the Five Elements), autumn, and the west. This small but well carved dense hardwood image made for private devotion on a home altar finely portrays her as a modest matronly figure holding her robe across her body creating deeply cut fold patterns seated on a red backless throne and wearing a large and well carved iconic phoenix in her headdress.
This repoussé votive plaque portrays the Hindu deity Vishnu, the Protector of the Universe with a double aureole holding the conch shell he uses to make the om (aum) sound that embodies divine energy and is considered to be the sound of the universe which encompasses all sounds within it. He wears a crown representing his supreme power and earrings signifying the dual nature of creation. The lotus next to him and the lotus leaves of his throne symbolize purity, truth, and the unfolding of creation.
This massive, heavy silver pendant represents a four armed Ganesh seated within a betel shape frame wearing a crown and reaching for modak, a rice flour sweet dumpling filled with coconut that is his favorite treat. Ganesh pendants are worn for good luck as he is the God who removes the obstacles in devotees’ lives.
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