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The Door Gods

Tags: Door Gods | god | print

Both the door gods wear body armors; one holds a sword in each hand and the other is with whips. The god on the right-hand side is Qin Shubao (秦叔寶), on the left is Yuchi Jingde (尉遲敬德). The legend has it that when Emperor Tang Taizong fell ill, there were ghosts howling outside his bedroom. When Taizong told his ministers about this, Qin Shubao said, "I am willing to stand guard outside your door with Yuchi Jingde, both wearing armors." Taizong agreed to this arrangement and that night was peaceful without any disturbance. Taizong then ordered a painter to draw pictures of these two generals and hung them on the palace doors to expel evil spirits. This practice was followed by later generations and the two generals became the door gods. 



Printmaking
35 x47.5 cm

National Museum of History