Category

Religious Life of the Taiwanese

Time Period

20th century CE

Size

149.5 × 66.5 cm

Material

Paper

Several deities are featured, with Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, usually as the central deity. This is commonly referred to as “Guanyin Malian” in Taiwanese folk belief. They are commonly displayed in households and public halls as objects of worship for homes or ancestral altars. The hanging scroll in the central hall is divided into three tiers. The upper tier features Guanyin and the Dragon Maiden of Good Fortune (善財龍女). The middle tier includes Guan Yu and the goddess Mazu. The lower tier consists of the Kitchen God and the Fude Zhengshen (Earth God). This is often added with a pair of couplets to form a relatively simple combination. The couplet is inscribed as “with the eternal support of Buddha’s power, the home is blessed; while the ancestors ensure the excellence and virtue of future generations” ( 佛力永扶家安宅吉，祖宗長佑子秀孫賢).