Title
Chinese woodblock print depicting the Military Door God Qin Qiong （秦琼）
Year/Period
Mid 1940s-mid 1960s
Region
Suzhou, China
Object Type
colour woodcuts (prints)
Material
paper (fiber product), colour (pigment)
Technique
color woodcut (process)
Dimension
Image size: 54.7 x 31.1 cm,
Image size: H60.0 x W36.4 cm (Mount)
Image size: H60.0 x W36.4 cm (Mount)
Accession No.
2010-00954
Collection of
NLB Type
Cultural artefact
Depicted here is Qin Qiong, a general of the Tang Dynasty emperor Tang Taizong （唐太宗）. In this print, Qin Qiong is fully armed, looking ready to ward off any evil spirit. This print is usually pasted facing another print depicting Yuchi Gong, who was also a general of the emperor. The two generals once stood guard at the palace entrance to prevent evil spirits from haunting the emperor. Their portraits were pasted on the palace doors later to relieve them of their duties. Since then, they became popular representations as Military Door Gods. The print was produced in Taohuawu, a village in Suzhou province in China famous for its New Year prints.
