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My grandfather bought this textile some 70 years ago. I love it, but know very little about it. It is 29 inches wide and approximately 10 to 12 feet long.

The scene at the top is actually on a flap. I know this scene depicts the gods of prosperity, longevity, and blessings, but there is the limit of what I know. Any additional information would be great.

Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you all.

Brittni

Here's additional pictures. I started this thread on my phone, so had to wait until the message cleared to add photos from my computer. Pardon the mess, I took these photos a few days after a move.

Judging by the auspicious colors, subject matter and techniques seen in your photos, this is an embroidery and couched-work wedding banner. As you've already determined, the three prominent figures at top are Daoist "Star Gods" Fuxing (Prosperity, center), Luxing (Blessings for family and career, left) and Shouxing (Longevity, right). The pair of mythical phoenixes below them symbolize happy marriage and the "Yin" or feminine aspect of the cosmos, as well as being emblematic of the Queen Mother of the West in Daoist lore. (See image link below for her image on another banner, plus a URL to information on the Star Gods). Being symmetry-conscious, the Chinese wedding planners might have used a second banner like this but with dragons prominently displayed to balance things off with an equal portion of "Yang", the male cosmic essence.

I'd guess that your banner had some age on it when purchased by your grandfather and perhaps dates to around 1900, or the late Qing-early Republic era.

Best regards,

Bill H.



URL Title :FuLuShou

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