Michael Backman Ltd - Home
Temple God
China or Southeast Asian Chinese Communities
early 20th century
height: 27cm
This image of an unidentified Chinese god or deity is carved from a single block of softwood and decorated in
polychrome paint. The deity wears courtly robes embellished with extrusion work. He holds a lotus petal bowl or
perhaps a pineapple half in one hand. His other hand might have held a fly whisk or some other emblem. His left
foot rests on a dog.
Images such as these were used across China and in Chinese communities in Southeast Asia to worship well
known gods from the enormous pantheon of Chinese deities plus lesser known and localised deities.
Such images were used by Buddhist and Taoist practitioners. They were placed in temples and sometimes in
household shrines.
The condition of many extant examples is often poor, due to weathering, particularly as Chinese temples rare are
fully enclosed. This example has some flaking to the paint, a removable attribute is missing from the deity's left
hand, but otherwise is in relatively good condition.
References: Stevens, K., Chinese Gods: The Unseen World of Spirits and Demons, Collins & Brown, 1997.
Inventory no.: 716
This Item is available - Ask about this item
Temple God
China or Southeast Asian Chinese Communities
early 20th century
height: 27cm
This image of an unidentified Chinese god or deity is carved from a single block of softwood and decorated in
polychrome paint. The deity wears courtly robes embellished with extrusion work. He holds a lotus petal bowl or
perhaps a pineapple half in one hand. His other hand might have held a fly whisk or some other emblem. His left
foot rests on a dog.
Images such as these were used across China and in Chinese communities in Southeast Asia to worship well
known gods from the enormous pantheon of Chinese deities plus lesser known and localised deities.
Such images were used by Buddhist and Taoist practitioners. They were placed in temples and sometimes in
household shrines.
The condition of many extant examples is often poor, due to weathering, particularly as Chinese temples rare are
fully enclosed. This example has some flaking to the paint, a removable attribute is missing from the deity's left
hand, but otherwise is in relatively good condition.
References: Stevens, K., Chinese Gods: The Unseen World of Spirits and Demons, Collins & Brown, 1997.
Inventory no.: 716
This Item is available - Ask about this item
