Wood Carving: Figure of «Shou Xing”

Chinese Wood Carving: “Shou Xing”, Chinese god of longevity, originally identified with the star Canopus, is represented as a bearded old man with abundant white eyebrows and a large bald head. He is depicted together with a long reed, holding in his hand a peach tree symbolizing longevity and is accompanied by two long-lived animals, the stork and the turtle. A long life is considered an honor in China, and although Shou Xing does not have a particular temple or cult, he is highly respected. Shou Xing, who determines the age at which people die, carries a tablet inscribed with this information. The ages on the tablet can be modified, for example from 18 to 81 if offerings are made to Shou Xing.
Sometimes it is combined with Master Lao and the corresponding gods of Taoist theology.
XIX Century.
H: 18 cm. (with base)