Interesting talk about New Year customs: Why did we need to post door-god statues during the Chinese New Year in ancient times?

Whenever the New Year comes, you can always see a pair of mighty or kind-faced \”door gods\” posted on the front doors of some homes. The painting may be simple, but it also adds a touch of uniqueness to the Spring Festival. flavor.

↑Information picture by Hu Jian Photo

The door god is known as the \”god of door guardians\” among Chinese people. People stick his statue on the door to ward off evil spirits, ward off ghosts, and protect the safety of the home. It is very popular among Chinese people. \’s patron saint.

Why were door-god statues posted during the Chinese New Year in ancient times?

The Door God is the \”God of Doors\” believed by the people. The custom of worshiping the Door God and posting paintings of the Door God during the New Year has been around for a long time.

The \”Book of Rites\” is an ancient Chinese book of rules and regulations. It is said to have been written by Confucius\’s seventy-two disciples and his students. It was compiled by Dai Shengsuo, a ritual scholar in the Western Han Dynasty, and records the ritual system of the Pre-Qin Dynasty. Among them, the \”Sacrifice Law\” mentions that \”the king established seven sacrifices for the group\’s surname, the princes established five sacrifices for the country, the great officials established three sacrifices, and the suitable people established two sacrifices, all have \’doors\’…\”

Why is there such a thing? Such a custom? There is a saying that the door god actually originated from nature worship in ancient times.

At that time, the ancients believed that the doors, stoves, etc. in the home all had \”gods\”. Since the door was used for daily access and had a relatively important status, it was one of the five sacrifices (door, household, door, door, etc.) during sacrifices. The first of the five main sacrifices of Zhongliu, Zao and Xing, he later evolved into the door god.

Folklore expert Wang Juan explained that the \”door god\” is usually posted before the New Year\’s Eve dinner on New Year\’s Eve. The ancient gate has two doors, one on the left and one on the right when the statue of the door god is attached.

In ancient times, the level of science and medicine was relatively low, and plague diseases posed a greater threat to people’s survival. Therefore, door gods have become popular patron saints among the people. People are willing to put up statues of door gods during the Chinese New Year and when we welcome the new and the old, asking them to guard their homes and ward off evil spirits.

↑Data map: Woodblock door god New Year pictures. Sha Jian Long Photo

In addition to Shen Tu and Yu Lei, who else is the \”door god\” in ancient times?

In folklore, the earliest door gods in ancient times were gods. The two gods Tu and Yulei.

The \”Book of Mountains and Seas\” says that there is a \”Dushuo Mountain\”, and there is a large peach tree on the mountain. In the northeast where the peach branches extend, there is a \”Dushuo Mountain\”. \”Ghost Gate\” The two divine generals guarding this gate are Shen Tu and Yu Lei.

Their duty is to prevent harmful ghosts from entering people\’s homes, and they are respected by people for this reason. As door gods stick on the door to ward off evil spirits

As time goes by, the number of \”door gods\” begins to increase. The most familiar \”door gods\” are probably Qin Qiong and Yu Chigong. Zhong Kui, Bao Gong, Wen Tianxiang, etc., and Hai Rui of the Ming Dynasty later became one of the \”door gods\”.

There is also a type of door gods that pray for blessings, wealth, and longevity. The areas are not quite the same, but they all represent people’s wishes for blessings.

The beautiful wishes behind the New Year’s “Door God” stickers

Although. They all have the meaning of praying for good luck. However, in the early years, the \”door gods\” on the door were not paintings, but real objects carved from peach wood boards. Sometimes they were only engraved with the names of the two gods \”Shen Tu\” and \”Yulei\”. , sometimes carving the image of two people.

\”Sou Shen Ji\” mentioned: \”Today\’s custom is to end the New Year\’s Eve with wax, decorate peach figures, hang Weisuo, and draw tigers on the door. , two lights are placed on the left and right, like a tiger sleeping, to drive away bad luck. ”

↑Data map: Shenyang Forbidden City hangs out \”door gods\” to welcome the upcoming Lunar New Year. Yu Haiyang Photo

During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the custom of having statues of door gods on the door during the New Year has become quite popular among the people. Zong Mao\’s \”Jingchu Sui Sui Ji\” says: \”On New Year\’s Day, two gods are painted on the left and right sides of the house. The god Tu on the left and Yu Lei on the right are commonly known as the door gods. \”

Some people also say that Taofu was later borrowed to refer to Spring Festival couplets. But in any case, Taofu must be replaced every year. Wang Anshi, a writer in the Northern Song Dynasty, described the scene of people celebrating the New Year in \”Spring Day\”, \”Always put the new couplets on The phrase \”peach for old talisman\” confirms this folk custom.

The styles of door god paintings vary. The \”Wu Men God\” usually wears robes and has a majestic look, while the \”blessing type\” door gods should be kinder and kinder. Sometimes, the paintings are also decorated with festive patterns such as deer and bats, which fit in with the peaceful atmosphere of the New Year.

In fact, as folklore experts say, putting up door god paintings during the New Year reflects the ancient people’s wish for their families to be safe and have good luck in the coming year. That is also people’s beautiful longing for the new year and their simplest expectation. (Reporter Shangguan Yun)

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