Although there are many local community and house gods, the Kitchen God, also known as the Stove God or Hearth God Zao Shen ( 灶神)Tsao Chun, Zao Jun, Zaojun, and Zaowang) has been the most revered and ubiquitous household deity since late Ming and Qing dynasties through current times. Almost every urban or rural family of every status had and often still revers its own Kitchen God image, which is responsible for observing the family’s behavior, protecting its wellbeing, and defending against adversity. On Chinese New Year he ascends the heavens to report the family’s behavior to the Jade Emperor who then determines the family’s fate for the next year. He is often depicted along with his wife wearing elaborate official’s robes and hat and grasping a pointed hu tablet like those held by high officials in the Chinese court as a writing surface to record the emperor’s commands and wishes and Taoist officials held them during spiritual audiences with Taoist deities. This is appropriate as the Kitchen God who reported notes about the families’ behavior to present to the Jade Emperor. Depending on the family’s financial resources, the Kitchen God images are depicted in paintings, drawings, paper cuts, wood plaques, and, less frequently, carved wood statues. Wood lacquer ones may be kept in a shrine made of masonry, wood, bamboo, or, in more modest homes, a shelf or niche dug into the wall forming a simple altar. The area holding the Kitchen God must be large enough to hold offerings which are traditionally prepared by women and presented by men.
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This Kitchen God and his wife are mirror-images, originally placed above the stove to monitor and bring good luck to the household. Finely carved, they wearing simplified officials robes and symbolically hold a tablet. Their bright colors have faded naturally into a smooth warm patina which adds comfort and positive feng sui to any kitchen decor and are unique wedding gifts.
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 Kitchen God and His Wife are well-carved, articulated, well presented. As mirror images sitting on backless chairs on a high plinth, they have similar layered gold officials’ robes and very different headdresses. Their clasped hands covered in ritual cloth symbolizes holding a hu tablet, they portray the reverence and solemnity associated with house gods whose future of families are in their hands. Antique Kitchen gods are unique and wonderful house or wedding gifts as they add warmth to positive chi to any decor.
Finely detailed and carved from dense wood, this Kitchen God and his Wife monitor the members of the home from their perch above the stove. Near mirror images of each other they wear layered gold officials’ robes with decorative sashes and symbolically hold a hu tablet. They are in excellent condition with most of the original pigmentation and gilt and make unique wedding gifts..
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 Kitchen God and his Wife is posed as streamlined virtual mirror-images and fashioned with a general quality relying on paint rather than deep carving for details. They sit on backless chairs on a plinth, with simplified gold officials’ robes with long color sashes, and well-carved black and gilt head gear. The wife’s face is smooth, generalized and the male face has a more deeply carved surface and painted highlights.
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