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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Delicate white robed Guanyin in meditation on radiating lotus throne. Provincial humble, modest, relatable, yet beautiful matronly figure.
Rare and beautiful provincial Songzi Guanyin is modest, compassionate and humble with lotus leaf crown, unadorned robe and pedestal with simple leaves. Her baby resembles the infant Buddha. Was probably on a home altar of wealthy couple desiring a (male) baby.
This hand carved antique stone flu lion is a fun loving benevolent creature as seen in his open mouth with sharp teeth in a fanciful grin with a curled tongue, mischievously twinkling eyes under bushy eyebrows and a compressed rotund body with a very small tail. This is not your refined portrait of an elegant protective beast, it’s just a friendly pet hanging out . He probably lived in the garden of a provincial fun-loving family and is looking for a similar environment where people like old wonderful pieces to remind them not to take themselves too seriously.
This large rare vibrant carving is the Taoist Deity of fertility Niangniang (“The Maiden Who Brings Children”) is often confused with Songzi Guanyin. Represented as an empress like figure, she glances serenely at 3 diminutive children, 2 males and a female extending their arms for protection. Stunning and peaceful, it is covered with gold highlights with intricate details.
Probably placed on a home altar with other carving, this Taoist official holds a long, curved hu, wearing a high hat, collared robe with painted cobalt blue clouds and official’s belt. Consecrated with original script inside.
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.
Taoist official/priest on backless chair, arms at chest and hands covered by ritual cloth symbolically holding a hu tablet. Darkened by incense and candle smoke from ritualistic offerings it was re-lacquered probably in early 20th-century.
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…
This fine antique Chinese wood carving was likely placed in a clan shrine or home altar with other religious images, ancestor figures or folk heroes reflecting the Chinese syncretic tradition that adhered to multiple spiritual and belief systems. Although it is difficult to identify specific figures, this image is likely a Taoist priest in officials…
Zhenwu (Perfected Warrior) one of most important and powerful Taoist deities, is revered for magical powers to suppress demonic forces. Forceful wood provincial image for personal devotion reflecting his iconography: on throne, bare feet resting on snake and tortoise, celestial scarf and maille armor.
Zhenwu (aka Xuanwu, Wuandi and Zhenwudadi) is one of the most revered Chinese Taoist figures, venerated for his ability to heal as well as to protect his country and the emperor. There are various depictions of his attire, but here he wears a plain black robe with an official’s belt which he holds in his…
Zhenwu, the True Warrior, Perfected Warrior or Northern Emperor was one of the most popular TaoistDeities in the Ming and Qing dynasties known as protector of the state and the imperial family. His feet here rest on a pedestal over a turtle with a lifted head and a snake curled around his shell. Among the many interpretations this represent beings over whom he presided including both celestial officers under his command, [and] former demons that were conquered by him. This is a fascinating carving symbolizes trusted strength. and power.
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