5th October 2025 Ms Wendy & Beena
Ms Wendy sent me a few watercolour paintings depicting old Chinese folklore. The first in the series is the story of Zhong Kui.
Zhong Kui, a deity in Chinese folklore and Taoist beliefs, is a figure of reverence. He is renowned for his ability to exorcise demons, oversee households, and ward off evil spirits. Revered as the “True King of Exorcists” or “The True King of House Control,” his image is believed to have originated from a talented scholar who met a tragic end after failing an exam. However, in death, he became a god, pledging to rid the world of demons. The dream legends of Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty and the paintings of Wu Daozi immortalised the portrait of Zhong Kui, making him a door god placed in every home to repel evil spirits and bring good fortune.
You will notice that many of these folklore stories focus on good overcoming evil, similar to many other cultures. Failures in exams and suicides remain issues even today. Young people often feel humiliated when they fail. The tradition of praising individuals when they succeed and mocking those who fail still persists in modern times. I have little faith that this will ever disappear. Let me know your thoughts on this topic.