19th Century Chinese Luohan Taoist Star God of Longevity Shouxing Bamboo Carving 壽星公

Antique Chinese Carved Bamboo Statue
Shou Xing Gong 壽星公
Longevity God on Stag
Origin: China, Circa: 19th Century
H 13" (33cm), W 8" (20cm), D 4" (10cm)
Minor hairlines, very good condition!

A rare carving of the Star God of Longevity. In Buddhism, he is known as Pindola the Bharadvaja Arhat. This Qing statue is exquisitely rendered from a close-grained bamboo, with an aged burgundy red surface, high-handed polishing smooth to a shine over time. Carved with assurance and Ming-style simplicity, the Taoist deity is laughing joyously, holding a longevity peach and riding on a stag. According to legend, the South Pole Star God was carried in his mother's womb for ten years in the 10th century. He was a hermit and a reincarnation of the Taoist god Hsuan-Wu, a crown prince who refused to be made a king and left worldly life to devoting to the study of Taoism and eventually becoming an Immortal. He is one of the three Star Gods of good fortune, Fu 福 (Prosperity), Lu 禄 (Eminence), and Shou 寿 (Longevity).