

Raffia hanging loop, for large wooden sign, painted with a demons face, hung outside house to keep away evil spirits, China, 1801-1900
A wooden sign painted with a demon's face, hung over doors in China to scare away demons. In ancient China people believed that spirits, ancestors and demons could interfere with the body and cause illness. This idea has existed in some form in Chinese medical traditions for most of the last two thousand years.
Details
- Category:
- Asian Medicine
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A639108/2
- Materials:
- complete and natural fibre (unspecified)
- type:
- shield
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- costume
- armour - protective wear