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Sanxing (deities)
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Sanxing (deities)
The Sanxing (Chinese: 三星; pinyin: sānxīng; lit. 'Three Stars') are the gods of three celestial bodies of particular significance in Chinese astronomy and Chinese folk religion: Jupiter, Mizar in Ursa Major, and Canopus. Fu, Lu, and Shou (traditional Chinese: 福祿壽; simplified Chinese: 福禄寿; pinyin: Fú Lù Shòu; Cantonese Yale: Fūk Luhk Sauh), or Cai, Zi and Shou (財子壽) are the embodiments of Fortune (Fu), presiding over the planet Jupiter; Prosperity (Lu), presiding over Mizar (ζ Ursae Majoris); and Longevity (Shou), presiding over Canopus. They have emerged from Chinese folk religion. Their iconic representation as three old, bearded, wise men dates back to the Ming dynasty, when the gods of the three stars were represented in human form for the first time. They are sometimes identified with other deities of Chinese religion or of Taoism.
The term is commonly used in Chinese culture to denote the three attributes of a good life. Statues of these three gods are found on the facades of folk religion's temples, ancestral shrines, in homes and many Chinese-owned shops, often on small altars with a glass of water, an orange or other auspicious offerings, especially during Chinese New Year. Traditionally, they are arranged right to left (Shou on the left of the viewer, Lu in the middle, and Fu on the far right), just as Chinese characters are traditionally written from right to left.
The three deities are widely associated with feng shui and are considered auspicious presences in the home.
The three gods originate in ancient Chinese star worship, each being the personification of a named celestial body.
The star of Shou (Shòuxīng, 壽星, "Star of Longevity") corresponds to Canopus (α Carinae), known in Chinese astronomy as Nanji Laoren (南極老人, "Old Man of the South Pole"). Sima Qian recorded it in the Shiji as the longevity star of the south polar region, noting that its appearance over China was held to herald a time of peace. Because Canopus transits very low across the southern horizon and is rarely visible from northern China, its sighting was regarded as a propitious and unusual event.
The star of Fu (Fúxīng, 福星, "Star of Fortune") corresponds to the planet Jupiter, known in classical Chinese astronomy as the "Year Star" (歲星, Suìxīng) because its sidereal period is approximately twelve years, matching the twelve-year cycle of the Earthly Branches. Jupiter was regarded as an auspicious planet whose position in the sky determined the fortunate direction for activities.
The star of Lu (Lùxīng, 祿星, "Star of Prosperity") corresponds to Mizar (ζ Ursae Majoris), the sixth star in the Wenchang asterism (文昌六) in traditional Chinese astronomy, associated with official rank and literary success.
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Sanxing (deities)
The Sanxing (Chinese: 三星; pinyin: sānxīng; lit. 'Three Stars') are the gods of three celestial bodies of particular significance in Chinese astronomy and Chinese folk religion: Jupiter, Mizar in Ursa Major, and Canopus. Fu, Lu, and Shou (traditional Chinese: 福祿壽; simplified Chinese: 福禄寿; pinyin: Fú Lù Shòu; Cantonese Yale: Fūk Luhk Sauh), or Cai, Zi and Shou (財子壽) are the embodiments of Fortune (Fu), presiding over the planet Jupiter; Prosperity (Lu), presiding over Mizar (ζ Ursae Majoris); and Longevity (Shou), presiding over Canopus. They have emerged from Chinese folk religion. Their iconic representation as three old, bearded, wise men dates back to the Ming dynasty, when the gods of the three stars were represented in human form for the first time. They are sometimes identified with other deities of Chinese religion or of Taoism.
The term is commonly used in Chinese culture to denote the three attributes of a good life. Statues of these three gods are found on the facades of folk religion's temples, ancestral shrines, in homes and many Chinese-owned shops, often on small altars with a glass of water, an orange or other auspicious offerings, especially during Chinese New Year. Traditionally, they are arranged right to left (Shou on the left of the viewer, Lu in the middle, and Fu on the far right), just as Chinese characters are traditionally written from right to left.
The three deities are widely associated with feng shui and are considered auspicious presences in the home.
The three gods originate in ancient Chinese star worship, each being the personification of a named celestial body.
The star of Shou (Shòuxīng, 壽星, "Star of Longevity") corresponds to Canopus (α Carinae), known in Chinese astronomy as Nanji Laoren (南極老人, "Old Man of the South Pole"). Sima Qian recorded it in the Shiji as the longevity star of the south polar region, noting that its appearance over China was held to herald a time of peace. Because Canopus transits very low across the southern horizon and is rarely visible from northern China, its sighting was regarded as a propitious and unusual event.
The star of Fu (Fúxīng, 福星, "Star of Fortune") corresponds to the planet Jupiter, known in classical Chinese astronomy as the "Year Star" (歲星, Suìxīng) because its sidereal period is approximately twelve years, matching the twelve-year cycle of the Earthly Branches. Jupiter was regarded as an auspicious planet whose position in the sky determined the fortunate direction for activities.
The star of Lu (Lùxīng, 祿星, "Star of Prosperity") corresponds to Mizar (ζ Ursae Majoris), the sixth star in the Wenchang asterism (文昌六) in traditional Chinese astronomy, associated with official rank and literary success.
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