In many world religions, home altars are spiritual tables on which sacred images, symbols or texts are placed and honored with offerings made for venerating deities and/or ancestors by family members that generally include light from candles or lamps, incense, flowers, food, and water. In Buddhism, home altars are physical spaces that support spiritual practice, encourage devotees to attain enlightenment and show gratitude to the Buddha for showing the way to enlightenment. Buddha and Buddhist deity statues and other spiritual symbols remind devotees of the qualities of Buddha’s wisdom and compassion and serve to inspire devotees to develop these qualities as they recall Buddha’s teachings.
Chinese Taoist and Popular Religion family home altars or shrines (Kam or Kung) honor ancestors, attract blessings and avert malevolent forces and influences. Ancestor worship is a family affair to communicate with and provide greetings and support to the deceased, engage in prayer, display filial piety and make offerings to ancestor statues and/or tablets. Taoist, Popular Religion and Buddhist deities maybe placed along with images of Taoist and Buddhist priests, deified local heroes and legends. Home altar statues are blessed in an eye-opening consecration ceremony performed by a Taoist or Buddhist priest or monk to imbue with them with chi and give them life. Offerings of candles, incense and foods are placed to attract blessings of fu which they augmented by placing furniture in certain locations and using propitious colors (red and gold attracts the most fu).
In Hinduism, the home altar is the most important part of a household where all family actions and decisions are made, special events are celebrated, and members gather to perform daily prayers (puja) to show reverence and devotion through prayer, supplication, songs, ceremonial worship and rituals. Hindu statues, images of deities who protect the family and engender good fortune, are placed there along with other ritual items of devotion.
Home altars are now viewed as spiritual, and often meditational spaces to celebrate one’s family. Along with spiritual icons or statues, they include photos of loved ones, well-loved mementos or trinkets, hand-written notes, or letters. Additional spiritual elements include candles, crystals, or incense.
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By making the Queen Mother larger than her horse and adorning it with decorative accessories – wide blanket, prominent head gear, double rowed harness, decorative medallion – this provincial artist emphasizes her power as Tao goddess of life, fertility and granting immortality.
Dense hardwood Queen Mother carving with phoenix in crown, holding robe across body, calmly seated on backless throne, much original polychrome and lacquer finish remains. Sealed consecrated cavity.
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.
Rare and charming carved attendant pair to flank deities on circular pedestals presenting boxed offerings with ribbons as wish for longevity.
Rare provincial carving of Guanyin in lalitsana clasping a rosary on a mythical Hǒu that symbolizes righteousness, morality and ushers in peace and prosperity. Small yet powerful, consecrated and mounted on Acrylic base.
Copper alloy repoussé votive plaque of Vishnu surrounded with head and body aureoles. Symbols of his power as Universe’s Protector include a conch shell, his crown and lotus leaves symbolizing purity, truth, and unfolding of creation.
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.
Shiwan stoneware peaches and lotuses on footed bowl auspicious symbols associated with springtime, fertility, long healthy life for many generations and therefore are propitious gifts for birthdays, especially for the elderly.
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.
Delicate white robed Guanyin in meditation on radiating lotus throne. Provincial humble, modest, relatable, yet beautiful matronly figure.
Antique bronze Nandi tribal or regional folk art piece with aged patina from use on a home altar. With incised decorative details, delineate sinuous body and graceful long horns it is based on a South Indian humpback cow.
Antique recumbent long horned Nandi seated on a high pedestal throne, with “bejeweled”decorative motifs on head and body. Fashioned as an incense or oil holder for a home puja. Beautiful patina, finely cast.
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