Household gods (mislabelled)
Date Published
: Temples / Joss House
: Central West (NSW)
: Hill End
: c.1910
Statues or figurines of common household gods mislabelled as coming from a Chinese temple.
Household gods figurines mislabelled as Joss
The two figures are not “deities from a Chinese temple” nor are they from the 1850s goldfields. Rather are popular folk figures known as Lu (right) and Shou — two of the “Fu Lu Shou” (福祿壽) trio of household gods representing Good fortune (Fu 福), Prosperity (Lu 祿), and Longevity (Shou 壽). Missing is Fu 福 — God of Blessings/Good Fortune (usually holding a child).
The museum sign is a classic example of older misinterpretations of Chinese heritage items on Australian goldfields displays. The insensitive signage is also indicative of an older attitude towards these items which ranged from patronising to dismissive.
Fu Lu Shou figurines
