Chinese Carved Figure of a Sage Shou-Xing God of Longevity on Stand

Description

Fine antique Chinese hand carved figure depicting Shou Xing having a traditional large bald head above a serene expression with long mustache and beard
He is wearing long robes tied at the waist, on part of his clothing is incised shou symbol.
Shou Xing is holding wooden staff with double gourd in his left hand. To his right is little boy (Shou xing himself as a child) holding a peach, to his left is a crane.
This piece has an amazing detail. Please see all images of this beautiful antique piece.
Excellent antique condition. No chips or cracks.
Measures approximately 10" tall x 4.5" wide
A stellar deity, one of the San-xing. His name means "Star of Longevity", and he has an enormously high bald head. He supports himself on a knotty staff. In his hand he holds the peach of immortality. Symbolically he is represented as a mushroom or a turtle.
According to one legend there was once a boy called Zhao Yen who, as a child, was told the had only nineteen more years to live. He was advised to go to a certain field on a certain day and bring with him a jar of wine and dried meat. In that particular field he would notice two men playing draughts under a mulberry tree. He should offer them wine and meat, but under no account answer any of their questions. Zhao Yen followed that advise. When the men had partaken of the wine and meat, they discussed how they might best thank the boy for his hospitality. In the end they decided to reverse the digits of the number of years the boy could be expected to live, thus changing 19 into 91. He was later told that one of the players had been the God of the North Pole, who determines the day on which people are born, and the God of the South Pole, who fixes the dates of death.
Shou-xing came to be known as Shou-lao in later popular belief. He is also called Nan-ji-Xian-weng ("the Old Man of the South Pole").
Shou Xing - God of Longevity
This character represents 'long life'. According to Chinese folklore, Longevity is described as wise, knowledgeable and capable of ruling the world. During festivals, a Chinese family normally worships the symbols or pictures of Longevity to express gratitude for granting the elders in the family a long life.
When old people celebrate their birthdays, families and friends love to use the drawings of Shou as gifts. Pictures of Shou were often drawn on birthday cakes. Such a gesture would embody the filial wish that family elders or birthday person might live as long as the legendary mountains of the south, with health and good fortune to match.
Great addition to any collection.
***all sizes are approximate. We ship worldwide.