China News Service, Shenyang, February 2 (Reporter Han Hong) On February 2, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, northern China ushered in the "Little New Year". That morning, a door god was hung on the door of the Forbidden City in Shenyang to welcome the arrival of the Lunar New Year.
According to historical research, the first person in the Qing Dynasty who ordered the hanging of Han door gods was Emperor Shunzhi. Before the Qing Dynasty moved their capital to Beijing, the Manchus did not have the custom of hanging door gods and posting couplets. After the Qing Dynasty established its capital in Beijing, the Forbidden City in Shenyang began to hang door gods and post couplets. At that time, the door gods and couplets used in the Shenyang Forbidden City were specially provided by the Royal Painting Academy and Royal Academy of the Imperial Palace in Beijing, and there were strict regulations on which door gods and couplets should be hung on each door.
On February 2, a door god was hung on the gate of the Forbidden City in Shenyang to welcome the arrival of the Lunar New Year. Photo by Gao Wei
The Shenyang Forbidden City has been hanging door gods during the Spring Festival for many years. The pair of door gods hung at the east gate that day were the "Jiang" door gods. There are two symmetrical generals painted on the left and right of the door god. One has a fair face and a kind expression, while the other has a dark face and a ferocious expression. Both are in military uniforms. According to legend, they were two generals of the Tang Dynasty, Qin Shubao and Yuchi Jingde. Among them, the white-faced one was Qin Qiong, and the black-faced one was Yuchi Jingde, commonly known as "white-faced" and "black-faced".
According to reports, the door gods hung in the Qing Palace were divided into four types: "General", "Fulu", "Wawa" and "Panzi (Zhong Kui)". Different door gods were hung in different places. The "general" door god is usually hung at the main entrance of the palace, and its main purpose is to ward off evil spirits. The "Fulu" door god is hung on the door next to the palace, the "Doll" door god is often hung on the door of the concubine's bedroom to pray for many children and good fortune, and the "Panzi" door god is often hung on the corner of the wall.
Different from the folk who stick door gods on the door panels, the palace door gods are hung up. The door god is first decorated on a frame with copper ornaments, and then hung on the doors of various palaces and courtyards. On that day, many people stopped in front of the east gate of the Forbidden City in Shenyang. Some people broadcast live the process of hanging the door god, and some took photos with the door god. Li Lin, a citizen of Shenyang, said, "I came to the Forbidden City in Shenyang to see the door gods on the New Year's Day, and felt the different 'nian flavor' in traditional culture." (over)