The Sanxing are Fu, Lu, and Shou Chinese God's
The Sanxing (三星 "Three Stars"), who are Fu, Lu, and Shou (simplified Chinese: 福禄寿; traditional Chinese: 福祿壽; pinyin: Fú Lù Shòu), or Cai, Zi and Shou (財子壽), are the gods of the three stars and the three qualities of Prosperity (Fu), Status (Lu), and Longevity (Shou) in Chinese religion. These icons are thought to date 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.
The term is commonly used in Chinese culture to denote the three
attributes of a good life. Statues of these three gods are found on the
facades of folk religion's temples and ancestral shrines, in nearly
every Chinese home and many Chinese-owned shops on small altars with a
glass of water, an orange or other auspicious offerings, especially
during Chinese New Year. Traditionally, they are arranged right to left
(so Shou is on the left of the viewer, Lu in the middle, and Fu on the
far right), just as Chinese characters are traditionally written from
right to left.
The three gods, their stars and their attributes
Fuxing
He is generally depicted in scholar's dress, holding a scroll, on which is sometimes written the character "Fu". He may also be seen holding a child, or surrounded by children. He is sometimes conflated with Caishen, the "Wealth God".
Luxing
The star of Lu (禄), Luxing 禄星, is ζ Ursa Majoris, or, in traditional Chinese astronomy, the sixth star in the Wenchang cluster, and like the Fu star came to be personified.The Lu star is believed to be Zhang Xian who lived during the Later Shu dynasty. The word lu specifically refers to the salary of a government official. As such, the Lu star is the star of prosperity, rank, and influence.The Lu star was also worshipped separately from the other two as the deity dictating one's success in the imperial examinations, and therefore success in the imperial bureaucracy. The Lu star is usually depicted in the dress of a mandarin.
Shouxing
The star of Shou (壽), Shouxing 寿星, is α Carinae (Canopus), the star of the south pole in Chinese astronomy, and is believed to control the life spans of mortals. According to legend, he was carried in his mother's womb for ten years before being born, and was already an old man when delivered. He is recognized by his high, domed forehead and the peach which he carries as a symbol of immortality. The longevity god is usually shown smiling and friendly, and he may sometimes be carrying a gourd filled with the elixir of life. He is sometimes conflated with Laozi and corresponding gods of Taoist theology.
The Sanxing are Fu, Lu, and Shou Chinese God's
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