I am browsing Houzz website and come across some beautiful Chinese statues of three gods. Immediately, I know I need to research the meaning of these beautiful figures. They are from the Chinese tradition: The three gods of luck: Fu, Lu & Shou (also seen as Fuk, Luk and Sau).
As an aside, one figure is especially familiar to me. It stood on a pair of lamps in my home growing up. It looks very similar to this exact statue, below. Only my mom’s have a lamp shade over top. This is one of the three gods, the god of longevity.
The History Behind The Three Gods: Fu, Lu and Shou
First off, these three gods are most formally referred to as, “The Sanxing” meaning “Three Stars.”
Other terms for these three gods are Fuk, Luk and Sau, or Fu, Lu and Shu. They represent, fortune, prosperity and longevity.
At the time of the Ming dynasty, these three gods (or stars) were first represented in human form, depicting old wise men.
Furthermore, they are traditionally arranged in this order, from right to left, the same way Chinese letters are written from right to left. So far right is Fu, Lu is in the middle and Shou is far left.
Lastly, fortune, prosperity and longevity, are the attributes that depict a good life. Throughout Asia, the figurines are oftentimes kept in people’s homes, with small offerings in front of the figures. And they are nearly always found in shrines and temples.
They can often be referred to in many different ways, so don’t be confused!
- The lucky immortals
- Three gods of luck
- Fu, Lu, Shu
- Fuk, Luk and Sau
- Three gods of wealth
- Three wise gods
- The three stars
The Beautiful Different Color Combinations of Chinese Statues of Three Gods
Wow, these are some of the most beautifully painted three-gods statues, I have ever seen! The bright colors are so welcoming and happy. The pure tomato red mixed with the pastels is so reminiscent of the beautiful color mixing in the Chinese culture.
For a whole different vibe, there are these beautiful blue and white Chinese statues. They’re available to purchase through Houzz website. If you’re not familiar, Houzz is a website of home goods and general home information and a place to share a builder’s portfolio.
Surprisingly, these statues are available for $207 for the set. But, this price is probably subject to change.
Next, one can purchase these slightly different blue and white statues through Etsy. The beautiful blue, white and gold colors will work great in a blue and white themed home! And are slightly more fancy with the gold details.
I hope this gives you a little backdrop on the beautiful history of these Chinese statues of the three gods. A story behind these artifacts brings a smile to my face every time I see them.
If you are interested in following the (maybe shoppable) items listed above, the links are included within the subtitles of each image.
Thanks for stopping by!
