Paper Joss
Deity Worship Through Folk Prints

A qilin was a mythical, auspicious animal in ancient China. It was said to have never been seen stepping on live insects, breaking growing plants, eating ill-gotten food, drinking dirty pond water, living in groups or walking in pairs. They were said to appear only when the top ruler of a state enjoyed high prestige and commanded universal respect. Supposedly, the moment Confucius was born, a qilin appeared and spurted a "Royal Book" from its mouth. In later generations, this print symbolized good wishes for newlyweds to give birth to a promising son. Here, a lovely boy rides a qilin and holds a book in his hands. Another boy follows carrying an elaborate fan. The lively, entwining-vine background adds a joyous air to the print.

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According to Taoism, the Heavenly Ruler granted good fortune to human beings on the god's birthday, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. On that date, Chinese people, especially businessmen, offered sacrifices to the god and prayed for good fortune.

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"The Beginning of Spring" is the first of the twenty-four solar terms. Government offices at all levels used to organize activities such as "Greeting the Spring" and "Whipping the Spring Ox" to inspire farmers. "The Spring Ox" was usually printed with the twenty-four solar terms for farmers to use as a reference. For example, if the Beginning of Spring fell on the twelfth month of the lunar year, the image of the boy in the print (the God of Arista) appeared in front of the ox, indicating the spring would come earlier than usual. If spring fell on the first month of the new lunar year, the boy appeared behind the animal, showing that the frozen earth would remain longer than usual and that it was not appropriate for framers to seed early. If the boy appeared with a naked foot, it meant that good weather would result in a bumper harvest. The noted Song Dynasty (960-1279) poet Liu Kezhuang once wrote: "Without receiving a table calendar this year, I had better go look at the picture on the wall at the farmer's home." "Picture: here refers to the print of the Spring Ox which farmers have for centuries pasted up in their homes.

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In the upper part of the print, Guan Yin, or Avalokitesvara, carries a baby boy. She is flanked by her attendants, a boy and a girl. The Kitchen God with his wife at his side appears in the center of the print. The lower part of the print includes a pair of Door Gods - Generals Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong - flankd by the God of the Market and the Boy Ushering in Wealth as well as the Eight Immortals. Chinese worshiped this medley of traditional auspicious figures and prayed to them for happiness, wealth, a peaceful family and a baby boom.

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