Have you seen the Menshen on the antique doors of our lunar new year display?
Menshen or door guardians are divine keepers of doors and gates in Chinese culture, used to protect against evil influences or negative energy.
Menshen have their roots in ancient tradition, but they can still be seen in Chinese culture today. Like western lion gates, the Menshen continue a tradition that dates back to ancient mythology and folklore. They are seen as both an essential part of lunar new year customs and as decorative elements.
One tradition reports that two Tang-dynasty generals stood guard at the imperial gates during a serious illness of Emperor Tai Zong (reigned 626–649), who was grievously troubled by evil spirits. The presence of two fully armored generals was so effective that the emperor ordered their pictures to be posted permanently on the gates. The custom of having Menshen standing guard at one’s door quickly spread throughout China. During the new year celebration, the images are refurbished in brilliant colors. Nowadays people replace colorful posters of Menshen on doors and gates at the beginning of the new year.
The Menshen currently on display at the lobby of SCCCC were painted on a pair of antique doors and donated by Sun Ten Museum.
南海岸中華文化中心最近在大廳及松柏園推出充滿節慶喜氣的佈置，其中包括一對畫工精細、引人矚目的門神。
門神是最受漢民族歡迎的保護神之一，門神畫就是直接雕刻或畫在門板上，或是農曆新年貼在門上的門神年畫。張貼門神和春聯是華人過年少不了的傳統習俗，代表著避邪除災、迎祥納福的美好願望。
有關門神的傳說之一是，唐太宗李世民年輕時南征北討，並發動宮廷政變，開創貞觀之治，中年以後他忽患惡疾，晚上常夢見有鬼魅入宮，令他難以成眠，跟隨唐太宗多年的兩位大將秦叔寶（秦瓊）及尉遲敬德（尉遲恭），自願晚上全副武裝，手持兵器，守衛宮門，當晚唐太宗果然酣然入睡。於是唐太宗命畫工繪製兩位將軍的畫像，高掛在宮門上。這個故事後來經吳承恩采納，寫入《西遊記》第十回「二將軍宮門鎮鬼，唐太宗地府還魂」，在民間廣為流傳，也使得這兩位門神的形像更加深入人心。
南海岸中華文化中心大廳展示的門神，是直接畫在古董門板上，保留著民間傳統年畫的特色，由順天美術館捐贈。