The god of blessing is the god of happiness, representing blessings, good luck, health, happiness, wishes, wishes, food and clothing... Folk have five blessings, namely shou, fu, kangning, good morality, and examination of life. We all want the stars to shine brightly.
Ding Guanpeng of the Qing Dynasty painted the Blessed Heavenly Official
Some people think that the lucky star is the year star, that is, Jupiter, and the folk warlocks say that the year star shines and can bless people. In fact, the god of fortune is not a star god, but its origin is controversial and inconsistent.
One of the theories is related to the belief in the "three officials" advocated by Zhang Daoling, the founder of Taoism, referring to the blessing of heavenly officials, the forgiveness of sins by earth officials, and the relief of water officials. People believed in tianguan as a blessed god, and it metamorphosed from the primitive religion of nature worship and became a recognized image of the people.
The first generation of clay people Zhang clay sculpture of the blessed Heavenly Officials statue
In the old folk new year paintings, chromatic prints, ceramics and jade carvings, the image of the god of fortune was mostly the appearance of the official Tianguan, a graceful and luxurious spirit, wearing a court dress, a dragon embroidered jade belt, holding a big ruyi, five long whiskers, and a pleasant color, some resembling a rich man (yuanwailang). This is influenced by the worldly concept that wealth is blessed.
Qing Dynasty Kangxi Fulu Shou five-color porcelain vase
Another theory is that according to the Book of Tang, it is pointed out that The Daozhou Assassin Shi Yangcheng played a song and asked for the orders of the dwarves (dwarfs) of Daozhou, hoping that the emperor would no longer play with the dwarves as slaves and make the emperor enlightened. The people felt their virtue and were blessed and honored. Since the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the people have blackmailed Yangcheng into Yang Cheng, and advanced the era to the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, but the story is much the same.
Suzhou Taohuawu old woodblock print Fuxing arch photo
Shaanxi Fengxiang Qing Dynasty old version of the Shixing Bureau re-engraved woodblock painting Fuxing, on behalf of the people to pray for smooth wind and rain, Guotai and people's safety
In the Song Dynasty, some people worshipped the Taoist Zhenwu Emperor as a blessing god and hung it on the bedside, but it did not become popular.
After the Qing Dynasty, some people in the people shaped the god of fortune and the god of Lu into the appearance of Zhang Xian, but in fact, there was no basis.
The god of blessing worship is enshrined in the people of the southeast coast of Taiwan
Reference: "Auspicious Folk God" edited by Li Yinghao