Stove God and the God of Wealth
'Stove God and God of Wealth'
Yangjiabu Shandong
45 x 80 cm
1995 reprint of early 20th century image
In this representation the Stove God appears more than once. At the bottom he appears holding a tablet of office, and above he appears again seated next to his wife. Above them one finds the God of Wealth holding an ingot of gold or silver and sitting on a silver throne. On the right and left of the God of Wealth are two assistants, identified by their banners as the 'Wealth Summoning Lad' and the 'Shop Profiting Fairy'- Other revered figures appear on the right and left margins - these are the Eight Immortals who hold a prominent place in Chinese popular religion and folklore.
How can we 'read' this picture? Considering that this picture was posted permanently in the home and above the stove, does the presence of particular deities and their relative position indicate anything about the social structure of the Chinese family? Why are the gods dressed as classical Chinese officials? At the bottom of the picture you can see a dog, a rooster and a pot of gleaming jewels - what do you suppose this symbolizes?
