Title
Chinese woodblock prints depicting a pair of Military Door Gods
Year/Period
Mid 1940s-mid 1960s
Region
Guangdong, China
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: Refer to parts
Accession No.
2010-00963
Collection of
This print depicts a pair of Military Door Gods dressed like generals. The banners that they carry on their backs are props used by army generals in Chinese operas to give the impression of power. The emblem for ‘longevity’ (寿, shou) is printed on each banner. Prints of Military Door Gods are usually modelled after famous heroes, but some may just depict a general-like figure, such as those seen in Chinese operas. The prints should face each other to prevent spirits from passing through the doors. The prints were produced in Foshan, which is in the Guangdong province in China. Foshan’s prints are usually not very elaborate. However, the colours applied are very striking and the backgrounds are usually bright orange.
