envelope (containers)

Gift envelope. Depicted on the front are the three Stellar Gods: On the left is Zhang Xian, the god of wealth, a representation of the Lu star, Ursa Major, dressed in the robes of a mandarin. He carries a ruyi sceptre in his right hand. His official’s headdress projects to either side, one of the easiest ways to distinguish him. On the right is Shou, the god of longevity, distinguishable by his domed bald head and long staff. Sometimes he carries a gourd. The Shou star is the South Pole in Chinese astronomy, which governs a person’s life span. Finally in the middle is Yang Cheng, the god of good fortune, representing the Fu star, Jupiter. He is shown in the dress of a scholar, and is accompanied by a child. Two other children appear in the scene.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
2009.390.2
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 130 mm x 75 mm x 2 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
paper
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
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Collection Information

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