Fact & Legend
史实与传说
📚 Historical Origin
Door Gods (门神, Men Shen) are guardian figures painted on doors to ward off evil spirits. The tradition dates back to at least the Han dynasty. The earliest pair — Shentu (神荼) and Yulei (郁垒) — were mythological guardians of the桃都山 (Peach Capital Mountain) who bound evil spirits with ropes of reed.
Later, historical generals replaced the mythological figures. The most popular pair became Qin Qiong (秦琼) and Yuchi Gong (尉迟恭) — Tang dynasty generals who guarded Emperor Taizong's door at night, frightening away a ghost that haunted the palace.
📚 历史渊源
门神（门神）是 painted 在门上 ward off evil spirits 的 guardian figures。该传统至少可追溯到汉代。最早的 pair——神荼和郁垒——是桃都山的 mythological guardians，以苇绳捆缚恶鬼。后来，historical generals 替代了 mythological figures。最受欢迎的 pair 成为秦琼和尉迟恭——唐代 generals，夜间守卫太宗寝宫，吓跑了 palace 中的 ghost。
🌙 Sacred Legend
Emperor Taizong of Tang was haunted by the ghosts of enemies he had killed in battle. Unable to sleep, he posted his two bravest generals — Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong — outside his door in full armor. The ghosts vanished. But the emperor felt guilty about disturbing his generals' sleep, so he had their portraits painted on the doors instead. The tradition stuck.
🌙 神圣传说
唐太宗被 battle 中杀死的敌人的鬼魂 haunt。无法入睡，他让两位最勇敢的将军——秦琼和尉迟恭—— full armor 守在门外。鬼魂消失了。但皇帝觉得打扰了将军的 sleep，便让人将他们的肖像 painted 在门上。这一传统 stuck。
Legacy
Every Chinese New Year, new Door God images are posted on front doors across the Chinese world — one of the most visible and universal Chinese traditions. They represent the principle that protection begins at the threshold — the boundary between the safe interior and the dangerous exterior.
影响
每年春节，新的门神像被张贴在中文世界各地的大门上——这是最 visible and universal 的中国传统之一。他们代表保护从门槛开始的原则——安全的 interior 和危险的 exterior 之间的边界。