Fu, Lu, Shou: The Three Lucky Stars in Chinese Culture and Feng Shui

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

- The status of the three stars of Fu, Lu and Shou in traditional Chinese culture
- The vision of a better life symbolized by Fu, Lu and Shou

2. The origin and symbol of the three stars of Fu, Lu and Shou

- The origin of Fuxing: happiness and family harmony
- The origin of Luxing: career success and prominent status
- The origin of Shouxing: a symbol of longevity and health

3. Typical images of the three gods of Fu, Lu and Shou

- The image and symbolic meaning of Fuxing
- The image and symbolic meaning of Luxing
- The image and symbolic meaning of Shouxing

4. Legends of the three gods of Fu, Lu and Shou

- The story of Fuxing: the legend of Yang Cheng and the dwarf village
- The story of Luxing: the connection between Zhang Xian and Wenchang Palace
- The story of Shouxing: the South Pole Immortal and the mysterious birth

5. The connection between Fu, Lu and Shou and astrology worship

- The connection between Fuxing and Suixing
- The relationship between Luxing and Wenchangxing
- The symbol of Shouxing and Nanji Laorenxing

6. Folk customs and Feng Shui significance of Fu Lu Shou

- The significance of worshipping Fu Lu Shou in families and enterprises
- The placement and function of Fu Lu Shou in Feng Shui

7. The cultural significance of Fu Lu Shou belief

- The embodiment of traditional values: happiness, status and longevity
- Fu Lu Shou elements in folk activities: birthdays, weddings and festivals

8. The expression of Fu Lu Shou in art and literature

- The image of Fu Lu Shou in sculptures and paintings
- The praise of Fu Lu Shou in literary works

9. Modern application of Fu Lu Shou culture

- The embodiment of Fu Lu Shou in modern design and gifts
- The application of Fu Lu Shou as a cultural symbol in business

10. Conclusion

- The inheritance and influence of Fu Lu Shou culture
- The inspiration of Fu Lu Shou to contemporary happy life

"Three Stars" is an important symbol in Chinese auspicious culture, representing the three auspicious gods of Fuxing, Luxing and Shouxing. If these three gods are worshipped at home or in the company, it is said that they can bring wealth, prosperity and longevity to life and career. They are the three ideal incarnations of a good life in traditional Chinese culture.

The word "Three Stars" is a combination of "three" and "star", symbolizing the perfect combination of the three gods of Fu, Lu and Shou. They represent auspiciousness and harmony, authoritative wealth, and health and longevity respectively. Whether in the form of a trinity or an independent character image, the existence of the three stars embodies people's pursuit and belief in a happy life.

These three gods originated from ancient Chinese astrology, and they are in charge of Fuyun, Luyun and Shouyun respectively, affecting people's life destiny. Fu represents good luck and family harmony; Lu symbolizes career success and prominent status; Shou is a symbol of longevity and health. Worshiping the three stars not only expresses the yearning for a better life, but is also regarded as an important way to improve the fortune of families and businesses in Feng Shui.

Fu Lu Shou Three Gods: Origin and Symbol

Fu Lu Shou Three Gods are the most important auspicious gods in Chinese folk beliefs, symbolizing happiness (福), official position (禄) and longevity (寿). The typical image of the three gods is: Fu Shen is in the middle, holding a Ruyi in his hand, symbolizing blessing; Lu Xing is on the right, dressed as a clerk, wearing a peony flower on his head, holding a baby in his arms, symbolizing wealth and power; Shou Xing is on the left, shaped like the Nanji Xian Weng, with a broad forehead and white beard, holding a stick and holding a peach, symbolizing longevity and health.

Fu Lu Shou Three Gods originated from the ancient star worship, and are closely related to Chinese astronomy and folk culture. Fu Shen originated from Jupiter (Sui Xing), Lu Xing corresponds to the sixth star of Wenchang Star, and Shou Xing is Nanji Canopus. The ancients gave these stars sacred divinity and symbolic meanings, and personified them through Taoism and folk beliefs, making them important objects for people to pray for blessings, seek wealth, and celebrate birthdays, and are also one of the gods revered.

Origin of Lucky Star

Lucky Star was originally a symbol of Jupiter, representing harvest and auspiciousness. With the development of history, the image of Lucky Star gradually evolved and combined with historical figures, such as Yang Cheng, an official in the Tang Dynasty who was regarded as the incarnation of Lucky Star. He was widely respected for his integrity and benevolence and was considered a lucky star on earth. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the image of the Heavenly Official in Taoism replaced the original Lucky Star and became a symbol of blessing.

Origin of Lu Star

Lu Star originated from Wenchang Star. It was originally the sixth star next to the Big Dipper and was regarded as a god in charge of fame and imperial examinations. After the rise of the imperial examination system in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Lu Star gradually became closely associated with official positions and wealth, and became an important god worshipped by scholars and officials. Lu Star often appears in a wealthy and graceful image, representing a smooth career and a large family.

Origin of Longevity Star

Longevity Star, also known as the Southern Dipper, is a symbol of ancient longevity culture. The God of Longevity originated from the worship of the South Pole Star and was gradually personified as a kind elder, symbolizing health and longevity. The image of the God of Longevity is characterized by a large forehead, white beard, holding a longevity peach and Ganoderma lucidum in his hands, symbolizing vitality and immortality. This image is widely seen in folk beliefs and works of art, and has been widely spread and depicted.

The belief in the three gods of Fu, Lu and Shou runs through Chinese cultural history, symbolizing people's pursuit of a better life. In folk customs, the three gods of Fu, Lu and Shou are usually arranged from right to left, which is consistent with the traditional writing direction of Chinese characters. When worshiping, people often place statues or paintings of the three gods at home or in temples, and offer small sacrifices to pray for good luck, wealth and longevity.

Cultural significance and influence

The belief in Fu, Lu and Shou is not only an important part of the Han folk culture, but also a concentrated embodiment of Chinese traditional values. These three auspicious gods symbolize the ideal life state in people's minds: good luck, smooth career, and longevity. As representatives of traditional auspicious culture, the three gods of fortune, wealth and longevity occupy an important position in folk birthday celebrations, weddings and festivals. For example, couplets such as "happiness as the East Sea, longevity as the South Mountain" are often hung when celebrating birthdays.

By worshipping the three gods of fortune, wealth and longevity, people not only express their pursuit of a happy life, but also hope to improve their family and career fortunes in Feng Shui. These three auspicious gods have become an indispensable symbol of Chinese traditional culture, vividly showing the Chinese nation's deep expectation for a happy life.

Legend of the God of Fortune

There are many fascinating stories about the origin of the God of Fortune among the Chinese people. One of the most famous legends stems from the story of Yang Cheng, the governor of Daozhou during the Tang Dynasty. Yang Cheng was not only a respected government official, but also a benevolent man.

In his jurisdiction, there was a village inhabited by dwarfs. The emperor of the Tang Dynasty was very interested in the dwarfs and ordered that the dwarfs be brought to the palace for entertainment every year and that they be forbidden to return to their homes. Upon learning of this, Yang Cheng, regardless of the risk of angering the emperor, wrote a very persuasive letter, begging the emperor to allow the dwarfs to return to their families. The emperor was moved by Yang Cheng's sincerity and reason, and finally ordered the end of this cruel rule and let the dwarfs regain their freedom. From then on, Yang Cheng was regarded as the reincarnation of the God of Fortune, a symbol of happiness, benevolence and good luck.

Another legend about the God of Fortune tells of a businessman named Zhang. Zhang was known for his generosity and always provided meals for those in need. His good deeds attracted the attention of the gods of wealth and joy, and the two gods decided to visit Zhang in person and grant him blessings. However, when they arrived at Zhang's door, Zhang refused to let them in. Later, the God of Joy visited again alone, and this time Zhang happily received him. He believed that without joy, wealth and good luck would lose their meaning. From then on, Zhang was regarded as the incarnation of the God of Fortune, implying the importance of happiness and interpersonal harmony.

How ​​to Identify the God of Fortune

The image of the God of Fortune is usually a kindly elder, dressed in scholar's clothing, holding a scroll or the word "福". These symbolize education, wisdom and cultural inheritance. He sometimes holds a baby in his arms or is surrounded by children, implying family happiness and good luck passed down from generation to generation. In addition, "Fu" and "Bat" are homophones, and the image of the God of Fortune is often accompanied by bats, symbolizing overflowing blessings.

In some works of art, the head of the God of Fortune is also painted with mountains of gold and silver, further highlighting his attributes of controlling wealth and prosperity. His face is always full of smiles, symbolizing joy and satisfaction, and he is one of the important auspicious gods worshipped by the Chinese people.

Through the stories and images of the God of Fortune, the Chinese people expressed their pursuit of benevolence, generosity, happiness and harmony among human relations. These legends are not only myths, but also the portrayal of the best and most beautiful in traditional culture.

Legend of Lu Shen - God of Wealth and Honor

Legend of Lu Shen and Zhang Xian

Lu Shen, a god symbolizing wealth and official positions, is often associated with Zhang Xian, a Taoist priest from Sichuan during the Five Dynasties (907-960). Zhang Xian lived in Qingcheng Mountain and practiced Taoism. Because of his profound magical powers, he was regarded as a god in charge of fame, wealth and honor.

The most well-known story happened between Mengchang Jun of Shu and his concubine Hua Rui. Legend has it that Mengchang Jun once painted a portrait of himself as an archer and gave it to Lady Hua Rui to express friendship. Later, when Shu fell, Mengchang Jun surrendered to the Song Dynasty to save his life, but died mysteriously a few days later.
Lady Hua Rui was taken as a concubine by the emperor of the Song Dynasty, but she still hung the portrait of Mengchang Jun on the wall to show her remembrance. When faced with the emperor's doubts, she lied that it was a god named Zhang Xian who could give him children. The emperor believed it and began to worship Zhang Xian in the hope of having children. However, Huarui was still not pregnant.

One day, the emperor dreamed that Zhang Xian explained why he could not give birth to a child. After waking up, he worshipped Zhang Xian more devoutly and ordered more portraits of Zhang Xian to be painted. From then on, Zhang Xian was gradually worshipped by the people as the God of Fortune who blessed and gave birth to children.

The connection between Luxing and Wenchang Palace

The origin of the God of Fortune can be traced back to the Wenchang Palace in the sky. Wenchang Palace is part of the Chinese star system. One of the six stars represents official luck and fame, and is considered to be the incarnation of the God of Fortune on earth. When the imperial examination system was prevalent, Luxing became the object of devout prayers for poor students and those seeking official careers. Because the word "Lu" in ancient times meant the salary register of officials, its meaning was not only wealth, but also a symbol of social status.

Identifying the God of Fortune

The image of the God of Fortune often appears as a wealthy and imposing official. He wears a robe symbolizing high official status and a hat with a peony flower on his head, which symbolizes prosperity. His typical accessories are a scepter and a gold bar, symbolizing wealth and a successful career. The scepter is also a symbol of career in traditional Feng Shui.

The image of the God of Fortune is sometimes accompanied by a child, implying the prosperity and prosperity of the family. He may also appear in the same frame with a deer, or with the word "deer" painted on it. Since "deer" and "lu" have the same pronunciation, deer has become a common symbol of the God of Fortune. The image of the God of Fortune is popular in traditional Chinese art, whether in statues, paintings or murals, it shows the wealth and status he brings.

The God of Fortune is not only a symbol of wealth, but also represents people's yearning for a successful career and social status. In Chinese society where the imperial examination system is prevalent, the desire of ordinary people to change their destiny through the imperial examination makes the God of Fortune a spiritual sustenance for many students. Through the worship of the God of Fortune, people express their pursuit of glory, dignity and a good life.

Legend of Shouxing - God of Longevity

Shouxing is an old man, so he is also called:

- "Shouxing Laoer"
- "Nanji Xianweng"
- "Nanji Laoren"

The story of Shouxing is long and mysterious. A young couple was admiring the South Pole Star in the night sky, and suddenly it disappeared. The woman later found out that she was pregnant and speculated that it was related to her experience of observing the night sky. Later, in a dream, the unborn child told her that he would not be born until 10 years later. When the child did not come into the world as expected after 10 months, the woman began to believe this strange dream.

Because the pregnancy took too long, the couple was puzzled and she kept looking for explanations in her dreams. Later, she learned that the child would be born when the eyes of the stone lion turned red. She gradually understood this revelation and smeared the eyes of the stone lion with pig blood. Shouxing was finally born. However, because he did not go through the full ten-year gestation period, he was born permanently bald. This also explains the unique baldness and protruding forehead of Shouxing.

The reason why the God of Longevity looked old was that he later lived in seclusion in the mountains for many years. Decades later, he reappeared in front of the world with a walking stick, a gourd and a peach of immortality. At this time, all his human friends had died, and the only one he met was the great-great-grandson of his peers. This experience made him regarded as an immortal god beyond mortals.

Another widely circulated story involves a young boy named Yan Chao. Guan Lu, a famous fortune teller in the State of Wei, predicted that Yan Chao would not live long. Later, Yan Chao was ordered to go into the forest with food and drink to entertain two old men who were playing chess. The two wise men were the North Star God and the South Star God. The three stars thanked Yan Chao for his hospitality and extended his life to 90 years, which was the age when Yan Chao later died.

The God of Longevity was believed to have the ability to predict the time of death of each person and to determine the life span of each person in advance. Therefore, since ancient times, people have prayed to the God of Longevity for longevity and hoped to prolong their lives.

The God of Longevity and Celestial Phenomena

This deity is closely related to the Jiao and Kang constellations in the sky. It is said that when this constellation is clearly visible in the night sky, it indicates that the earth will be in peace and tranquility. Therefore, since ancient times, people in the palace and among the people would offer sacrifices to the God of Longevity to pray for good weather, peace and prosperity.

Identifying the God of Longevity

The image of the God of Longevity is an old man with a high head and a wide forehead, long ears and white beard, but a childlike face. He usually holds a peach wood stick with a gourd hanging on the top of the stick, which is filled with elixirs of immortality, and sometimes holds a fairy peach symbolizing longevity.

It is said that the peaches of the God of Longevity come from the Peach Sacred Garden of the Queen Mother of the West. These peaches ripen once every thousand years, and mortals can prolong their lives by eating one. In some statues, the God of Longevity also rides a deer or a crane, both of which symbolize longevity and auspiciousness. In addition, the God of Longevity is often followed by a little boy who holds a fairy peach or a longevity picture in his hand.

The God of Longevity is the most well-known of the three stars. As a symbol of longevity, he often appears alone in various celebrations or auspicious scenes, becoming one of the most important gods among the three stars of Fu, Lu and Shou.

The legend and image of the God of Longevity reflect people's yearning for longevity, and also show the deep connection between ancient Chinese astronomy and folk culture. The story of this god of longevity not only enriches Chinese traditional culture, but also leaves endless imagination and spiritual sustenance for future generations.

Feng Shui and the Three Stars

The "Three Stars" or "Three Immortals" are traditional Feng Shui remedies used to improve one's health, wealth, and success in life.

They can be referred to as the Star of Fortune, the Star of Wealth, and the Star of Longevity, respectively, where "Xing" means "star". Although few people worship them, their presence is believed to bring good luck, and therefore they can be seen in most Chinese homes. Each deity carries a symbolic item, and the three deities always appear together.

Facing the dining table is said to bring abundant benefits, while facing the office brings authority, prosperity, fame, and abundance.

Placement of the Three Stars

These three statues can bring wealth, prosperity, and longevity. You can choose from several key locations. Don't go overboard with multiple groups of statues because you don't want to appear greedy in front of the statues.

Although Fu, Lu, and Shou are not gods that people pray to, they are still highly valued in Feng Shui applications.

The statues of Fu, Lu, and Shou are always placed side by side, never separated, and there is a certain order. All three gods must face forward. Traditionally, they are placed from right to left, with Fu to the right of the viewer, Lu in the middle, and Shou on the far left.

Since the three stars are gods, they should be placed according to the usual rules of worship.

- They should not be directly against the statues of gods.
- Wherever you place them, they should be supported.
- Because they are gods, it is best to place them on a high shelf at least 3 feet off the ground.
- They should be placed in a conspicuous, high-energy place to promote unity and good luck for everyone.
- Businesses should display Fu, Lu, and Shou in areas where they interact with customers, such as reception or managers' offices.
- If they are placed on an altar, they should face the door or through a window towards the sky.
- They should not be exposed to bad or harmful energy (shaqi).

Best Areas to Place in Your Home

1. East Zone
The east represents your health and fortune palace. This is a great place to place Fu, Lu, and Shou in your home or business. The three gods should always face inwards, never outwards.

2. Northwest Zone
The northwest direction is your noble palace. Placing the three-star gods in this area can help your career and life go smoothly. If you are having difficulties at work, the three-star gods will help you find a helpful mentor.

3. Dining Room
The three-star gods guarding the dining table bring wealth and harmony to the family. They can be placed on the sideboard or china cabinet. If using paintings, they can be hung on the east wall for health. The three gods should face the dining table to bring blessings to the family.

4. Living Room
If you place the three-star gods in the living room, make sure there is a solid wall behind them. They can be placed on a desk with at least three feet between the desk and the floor to show respect for the deity. If a shelf is used for display, the shelf should also be of sufficient height and support.

5. Office
In an office, it is most effective to place the three deities against the wall behind your chair. The deities should be placed high enough to ensure that they can look at you and help you perform your duties. If it is not possible to place the deities behind your desk, you can choose to place them in the northwest corner, facing your desk.

In addition, the three deities can also be displayed separately according to specific functions:

- Fu Shen: Symbolizes happiness and harmony. Fu Shen often appears in paintings or sculptures and is suitable for placement in the relationship house.

- Lu Shen: Associated with wealth and prosperity. The ideal location for Lu Shen is the wealth house, and can be displayed with gold ingots or symbolic property.

- Shou Shen: Represents health and longevity. Shou Shen can be placed with symbols of longevity such as pine trees and cranes, and is suitable for placement in the health corner.

What to avoid when placing the gods of fortune, wealth and longevity

When placing the gods, follow the same Feng Shui principles as for placing other gods:

- Never place the three gods facing out of the room; always place them facing in.

- Never place the three gods against a door or window.

- Never place the three gods in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc.

- Never place the gods of fortune, wealth and longevity on the floor.

- Never place the gods of fortune, wealth and longevity opposite the bathroom, bedroom or kitchen.

Conclusion

The "three stars" gods, including the gods of fortune, wealth and longevity, are representatives of the gods of good fortune in China. When these three gods appear in the home or workplace, people will receive good luck, wealth and longevity. Each god is associated with a kind of good fortune, such as good fortune and harmony, power and money, health and longevity, etc.

These three gods have existed since the end of the Han Dynasty, and since the Ming Dynasty, they have been depicted in human form. Because they are highly respected in Chinese culture, they are often enshrined in homes, shrines, and temples. Feng Shui masters use the Three Stars as a panacea for money, health, and prosperity problems.

When the three gods of fortune, wealth, and longevity are combined, they should be placed in a conspicuous, high-energy place and in a certain order. Generally speaking, the Three Stars symbolize the quality of a happy life and are believed to bring good luck and blessings to the person who possesses them.