Images of Taoists, wealth gods and priests are often portrayed carrying a rectangular or boat shaped objects symbolizing wealth and thus are a wish for riches and good fortune. These objects represent taels, a common form of currency in China or, more specifically, ingots called yuanbao. Ingots are silver measurements of value first used during the Yuan dynasty that were molded into boat or shoe-shaped objects called yuanbao. Yuanbao is a rebus (visual pun) symbolizing official office or rank and can also symbolize coming in first in the imperial examination system. Silver ingots are also one of the Chinese Eight Treasures and symbolize brightness and purity. Statues of taoist priests holding a tael/ingot and a cup with the elixir of immortality are sometimes included on home altars along with statues of ancestors.
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Tudi Gong in horseshoe chair with typical kindly face, flowing beard, officials-attire: high hat, double waist belt, red color, holding a tael gold bar as wish for wealth. Most popular rural deity who protects small towns, residents and agriculture.
Taoist God of Wealth (Caishen) portrayed as benevolent authoritative figure associated with wealth: holds tael, robe with coin decorations, painted with red and gold.
Wonderfully aged and weathered stone Tudi Gong reflecting many traits of this beloved Earth God holding a tael for wealth and fortune. He sat happily on an outdoor shrine, and would be happy to sit in a garden to bring an aura of past times to a new family.
While major deities such as Guandi were officially sanctioned by government and religious authorities, many popular deities and historic figures were integrated into Popular Religion beliefs where they were assimilated and greatly modified with local traditions and iconographic depictions such as this. We assume this is Guandi, one of the most revered Chinese deities based…
Images of Taoist priests were often placed on a home altar along with other spiritual images, ancestral tablets and ancestor figures to honor the departed family members, practice familial piety and ancestor-worship, and request good fortune to the family dwelling and its household. Priests were called daoshi (道士 “master of the Tao”) identified by his…
This image from Guandong wears typical Taoist priest or shaman attire – an undergarment crossed at the neck, an overcoat clasped at the waist and a double-winged high hat centered with an image of a taotie. The taotie is a mystical animal sometimes on the hat of Taoist priests or shamans as a guardian or…
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