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These images, occasionally called 'Household Spirits' (Chia-shen ) by the carver, can be ordered by parents even if their son or daughter who is suffering from an unidentifiable ailment is mature, living away from home, and does not believe or wish to be involved.
The god carver explained that the image remained on the family altar until removed, usually because the individual concerned is no longer alive, when it is normally incinerated. However, there are times when an elderly lady does not wish to burn an image and, being unsure what to do with it, presents it to a temple with a fee, where it remains on the crowded 'mixed altar' (Lieh T'an ) and receives its share of public reverence and incense.
In theory, the god carver explained, these images can portray humans in many forms. Also in theory, in a previous incarnation the present human may have been an animal or an insect, though this is very unlikely and he had never heard of a case. In practice, all were Chinese humans in previous incarnations and the majority identified as generals or marshals, senior graduates, mandarins, and ladies of rank. The carver raised an eyebrow and added that it was not for him to question the word of the spirit mediums. Many of the ladies who come to him with their 'prescription' for an image would appear to have been male in a previous life, and it is very rare for a man to have been a female in his previous incarnation.
Images usually consist of either a seated lady or man with a number of 'unique' characteristics. The standard lady is a dowager with a heavily decorated hat and robe, and a crane under each of her feet. Some hold a scroll, a fly switch, a cup or bowl, or a gourd, whilst others simply hold their belt with one hand and rest their other hand on the arm of their 'dragon throne'. Male images vary from the scholar to the soldier, portraying them sitting on a 'dragon throne' and holding a scroll, seal, bowl, flag, or a tablet. Generals and Marshals, very occasionally portrayed seated astride a horse, have their battery of four or five triangular coloured flags in a rack across their backs indicating their military rank, but only rarely are they depicted with a weapon. Usually, the seated male has a lion, dog, or stylised creature, one under each foot, whereas the female, on rare occasions, might have frogs rather than cranes under hers.
KEITH STEVENS
301
These images, occasionally called 'Household Spirits' (Chia-shen
) by the carver, can be ordered by parents even if their son or daughter who is suffering from an unidentifiable ailment is mature. living away from home, and does not believe or wish to be involved.
The god carver explained that the image remained on the family altar until removed usually because the individual concerned is not longer alive, when it is normally incinerated. However, there are times when an elderly lady does not wish to burn an image and being unsure what to do with it presents it to a temple with a fee. where it remains on the crowded 'mixed altar' (Lieh T'an FM) and receives its share of public reverence and incense.
In theory, the god carver explained, these images can portray humans in many forms. Also in theory, in a previous incarnation the present human may have been animal or an insect though this is very unlikely and he had never heard of a case. In practice all were Chinese humans in previous incarnations and the majority identified as generals or marshals, senior graduates, mandarins, and ladies of rank. The carver raised an eyebrow and added that it was not for him to question the word of the spirit mediums. Many of the ladies who come to him with their 'prescription' for an image would appear to have been male in a previous life and it is very rare for a man to have been a female in his previous incarnation.
Images usually consist of either a seated lady or man with a number of 'unique' characteristics. The standard lady is a dowager with a heavily decorated hat and robe, and a crane under each of her feet. Some hold a scroll, a fly switch, a cup or bowl or a gourd whilst others simply hold their belt with one hand and rest their other hand on the arm of their 'dragon throne'. Male images vary from the scholar to the soldier, portraying them sitting on a 'dragon throne and holding a scroll, seal, bowl, flag or a tablet. Generals and Marshals, very occasionally portrayed seated astride a horse, have their battery of four or five triangular coloured flags in a rack across their backs indicating their military rank, but only rarely are they depicted with a weapon." Usually the seated male has a lion. dog or stylised creature one under each foot, whereas the female on rare occasions might have frogs rather than cranes under hers.
KEITH STEVENS
:
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