Shouxing - the Chinese God of longevity

Antique porcelain piece – wonder who ! or what this about ! ?

 

Canopus is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina and the second-brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −0.74, it is outshone only by Sirius. Located around 310 light-years from the Sun, Canopus is a bright giant of spectral type A9, so it is essentially white when seen with the naked eye. It has a luminosity over 10,000 times the luminosity of the Sun, is eight times as massive, and has expanded to 71 times the Sun's radius.   Canopus is a source of X-rays, which are likely being emitted from its corona. 

The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao. The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place; that of the mind is in abysmal stillness; that of associations is in their being with the virtuous; that of government is in its securing good order; that of (the conduct of) affairs is in its ability; and that of (the initiation of) any movement is in its timeliness. And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him. 

Intriguing !!  -  Taoist story about water !!!  The Tao (or Dao) is hard to define but is sometimes understood as the way of the universe. Taoism teaches that all living creatures ought to live in a state of harmony with the universe and the energy found in it. Ch’i, or qi, is the energy present in and guiding everything in the universe.   Taoism is connected to the philosopher Lao Tzu, who, around 500 B.C.E., wrote the main book of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching.

 

Mount Laojun in Luoyan, Henan Province, China is a sacred site for Taoists. Hundreds of Taoists embark on pilgrimages every year along with tourists from around the world to see this spectacular site. Taoism  is a religion and a philosophy from ancient China that has influenced folk and national belief. Taoism holds that humans and animals should live in balance with the Tao, or the universe. Taoists believe in spiritual immortality, where the spirit of the body joins the universe after death. The Tao Te Ching, or “The Way and Its Power,” is a collection of poetry and sayings from around the third and fourth centuries B.C.E. that guides Taoist thought and actions. 

There is lot about Chinese dolls.  The Sanxing (lit. 'Three Stars') are the gods of the three celestial bodies considered essential in Chinese astrology and mythology: Jupiter, Ursa Major, and Canopus.  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 the Chinese religion or of Taoism. 

Shouxing (also known as Shoulao) is the god of longevity, one of three star gods in Chinese beliefs. His most recognisable feature is his pronounced bald head and long beard, and he carries the ‘peach of immortality’. Statues of Shouxing are popular birthday gifts for elders.  The Old Man of the South Pole, Xian of Longevity   is the Taoist deification of Canopus, the brightest star of the constellation Carina. He is typically portrayed with long white hair and beard, a protruding forehead and a healthy pink complexion. His right hand often holds a peach and left hand a walking staff with a calabash gourd, which is said to contain the elixir of life.    

All the above were searched on web and read with some interest  – as  I was attracted by this Chinese doll, today I saw in MA Naraimhan’s gallery at Triplicane.  Intrigued by this Chinese, started with a search and ended up reading lot of what I have never heard.  It is a rare antique piece made in porcelain.

 
Interesting !
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
17.9.2024