James Baquet

    jamesbaquet@gmail.com

    YOU might see three strange-looking men on a table somewhere in a Taoist folk temple, or they may be painted on a wall. One looks like a scholar, another wears the headpiece of a high government official and the third has an oddly bulging forehead. These are the three deities known together as Fu Lu Shou, said to be the earthly manifestations of three “stars” (one is actually a planet) and represent aspects of a good life.

    Fu Xing is luck or happiness. He appears as a scholar holding a scroll and sometimes holding a child — another indication of luck. One legend says that during the Western Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-A.D. 8), he was a governor named Yang Cheng. The emperor was taking dwarfs from their homes in his province to entertain as slaves at court. Yang pleaded successfully with the emperor to end this practice and became a hero to his people.

    Lu Xing was once a poor man named Shi Fen. Attaining a minor position at court, he worked hard and advanced to a high post. Thus he represents a good income (the word “Lu” refers to a government salary) and came to represent prosperity.

    Shou Xing is perhaps the most popular, with many legends attributed to him. He was in his mother’s womb for nine (or 10) years, and was already an old man when he was born with an enormous head. The night he was conceived, his mother saw the Southern Pole Star, which determines the date of people’s deaths. So he is the God of Longevity, often seen holding the Peach of Immortality and accompanied by a deer, crane, or bat — all symbols of long life.