Happy New Year Fellow Hunters!
The outfit they are wearing resembles Caishen 財神, commonly known as the "God of Wealth". Caishen refers to a group of deities worshipped in Chinese folk religion and Taoism, and is commonly associated with bringing wealth and good fortune. Caishen emerged as a wealth deity during the Song dynasty, evolving from earlier folk and Taoist traditions then later becoming fully standardised in the Ming and Qing periods. This particular cut of Hanfu is of a Yuan Ling Pao 圓領袍, round collar gown. The four-clawed loong (Chinese dragon) on the robe is holding a "golden" copper coin in its mouth. Five-clawed loong robes were reserved for emperors. Deities such as Caishen are often depicted wearing four-clawed loong robes.
The neck piece is a variation of the Chang Ming Suo 長命鎖 / Bai Jia Suo 百家鎖 (Lock Charm). Its shape is based on ancient Chinese security locks. Traditionally, wearing this ornament is believed to help ward off evil spirits and "lock" one's life, so many children wear this type of jewellery from birth. In particular, the Bai Jia Suo is often made from contributions by many families, symbolising collective protection and blessings. Once a child is given a lock, they are believed to grow up safely and without harm. For this reason, the charm is called a Chang Ming Suo, meaning "long-life lock".
The gold ingot they are holding is known as a Yuan Bao 元寶, a form of metal ingot used in China from the Tang dynasty onwards, which became widespread during the Song and Yuan dynasties. While the use of metal ingots predates the Yuan dynasty, the term "Yuan Bao" became common during that period, with "Yuan" referring to the Yuan dynasty and "Bao" meaning "treasure". In modern China, gold Yuan Bao remain symbols of wealth and prosperity, and are commonly depicted during Chinese New Year festivities alongside Caishen.
The embroidery on the lower half of the robes (not shown in the gifs oops) depicts an item called Ju Bao Pen 聚宝盆, with the words Ju Bao Pen 聚宝盆 embroidered within the design. Ju Bao Pen literally translates to "Treasure-Gathering Basin", a mythical object in Chinese folklore that is believed to generate unlimited wealth and symbolises abundance, prosperity, and financial fortune. The item is commonly associated with a wealthy merchant named Shen Wansan from the Ming dynasty. According to legend, by placing coins and valuables into the basin, the items would multiply endlessly and generate unlimited wealth.
Year of the Horse 🐎
