Title
‘Chinese New Year woodblock print’ (年画) depicting a Military Door God with five children
Year/Period
Mid 1940s-mid 1960s
Region
Suzhou, China
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Image size: 60.5 x 36 cm,
Image size: H65.5 x W41.1 cm (Mount)
Image size: H65.5 x W41.1 cm (Mount)
Accession No.
2010-00973
Collection of
This print depicts a Military Door God with five children. The children represent the five talented official sons of Dou Yujun (窦禹钧), who lived in the Five Dynasties period. As depicted, the middle child in a civil official robe rides a Qilin (麒麟). This signifies that a successful scholar will be bestowed upon the family by the mythical beast. The boy in armour holds a ‘ruyi’ (如意), or an ‘as you wish’ sceptre, and is envisaged to be a general. Another one holds a coral branch, a symbol of longevity. Such ‘nianhua’ are not only meant for protection but also to invoke an abundance of blessings.This print was produced in Taohuawu, a village in Suzhou province in China famous for its New Year prints.
