text

Published

in

Gods in My Home gives an in-depth look at Chinese Lunar New Year traditions

By Chloe Cook

A shrine meant for holding spirit tablets or tablets of ancestors used for worship, 1644 - 1911. (CanCulture/Chloe Cook)

A shrine meant for holding spirit tablets or tablets of ancestors used for worship, 1644 – 1911. (CanCulture/Chloe Cook)

With the 2019 Chinese Lunar New Year festivities just beginning, the Royal Ontario Museum has installed a new exhibit that looks at the long-standing traditions of the festival.

Gods in My Home displays many different paintings, prints and artifacts from the 1900s, and beyond that shows the joyous time that is the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Traditionally, artworks like prints and paintings were hung in the main hall of a home to bring good fortune to the family in the new year. Gods in My Home showcases the kinds of art that families hung to create a festive atmosphere. The exhibit is on from now until Sept. 29.

The exhibit showcases everything from traditional art, to games, to instruments. It is intended to bring Chinese ancestral paintings and traditional popular prints together to explore and examine. There are also interactive activities throughout the exhibit as well as informative videos on display.

Copy of Ancestor Portrait of an Elderly Woman (1644 - 1911)

Copy of Ancestor Portrait of an Elderly Woman (1644 – 1911)

This is an example of an ancestor portrait, which was a popular way to pay tribute to relatives. The face of an ancestor was painted, then a body was chosen from a set of pre-made stamps and stamped on to the head.

Copy of Military and Civil Door Gods (1800s - mid-1900s)

Copy of Military and Civil Door Gods (1800s – mid-1900s)

Prints like these were placed on the doors of a home during new year celebrations. The military door gods kept away evil spirits and the civil door gods fostered prosperity for the family.

Copy of God of Earth (1800s - mid-1900s) and Figures of Tudi Gong (1644 - 1911)

Copy of God of Earth (1800s – mid-1900s) and Figures of Tudi Gong (1644 – 1911)

Left: God of Earth (1800s – mid-1900s) – This is a print depicting Tudi Gong. Right: These decorative figures were placed around the home and represented Tudi Gong, the god of earth and a protective spirit of rural places.

Copy of Create Your Own Paper God

Copy of Create Your Own Paper God

One of the many interactive activities in the exhibit is ‘Create Your Own Paper God.’ Various gods and deities were drawn on paper as a way for the people to communicate with them. After worship, the papers were stacked and burned to send the deities back to heaven.

Copy of Lady Mouse’s Wedding (1800s - mid-1900s)

Copy of Lady Mouse’s Wedding (1800s – mid-1900s)

Prints of folktales were common during the new year. This print depicts the tale of a mouse who is set to marry a cat, of who she believes is the strongest animal on earth. However, when the wedding begins, the groom starts to eat the guests.

Copy of Chinese Playing Cards (1800s - mid-1900s)

Copy of Chinese Playing Cards (1800s – mid-1900s)

Families often gathered and played games during the Chinese Lunar New Year festivities. This is a traditional deck of playing cards used in the 1800s well into the 1900s.

Copy of Assorted Instruments (1800s - mid-1900s)

Copy of Assorted Instruments (1800s – mid-1900s)

These are various instruments that are on display in the exhibit. There is an interactive element where you are able to hear what each instrument sounds like when it is played.


Copy of Ancestor Portrait of an Elderly Woman (1644 - 1911)

Copy of Military and Civil Door Gods (1800s - mid-1900s)

Copy of God of Earth (1800s - mid-1900s) and Figures of Tudi Gong (1644 - 1911)

Copy of Create Your Own Paper God

Copy of Lady Mouse’s Wedding (1800s - mid-1900s)

Copy of Chinese Playing Cards (1800s - mid-1900s)

Copy of Assorted Instruments (1800s - mid-1900s)

All images in this gallery were taken by Chloe Cook.

What Exactly is Chinese Lunar New Year?

The Chinese Lunar New Year is the day of the first new moon cycle of the year which typically falls around the beginning of February or late January.

It is one of the most important holidays in China, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and many other Asian countries. The celebrations typically last for about 15 days.

Every year is represented by a different animal from the Chinese zodiac. Each animal symbolizes different traits for people born in that year, as well as predicts what the year holds for us all. 2019 is the  year of the pig, that symbolizes luck, good fortune, wealth and honesty.