The Three Stars Fu Lu Shou

Statues of The Three Stars Fu Lu Shou are found in nearly every Chinese home and business on small doorway altars. The three gods Fu, Lu, Shou refer to the Taoist concept of good fortune (Fu), prosperity (Lu), and longevity (Shou) and even as this concept is depicted with three gods it refers to three stars. The three stars are arranged right to left (Fu is placed on the right, Lu in the middle and Shou on the left). Offerings for the three stars are a glass of water and oranges (mostly tangerines), which are considered as is a prayer or wish for good fortune.

© Asian Attack
Image: The Three Stars Fu Lu Shou

The Three Stars:

The Fu Star (Fu Xing)

Fu means happiness, blessing or good fortune, is refered to the planet Jupiter an is depicted in scholar’s dress, holding a scroll or a child or is surrounded by children. Due to a Taoist legend, Fu is associated with Yang Cheng, a governor who risked his life to writing a memorial to the emperor to save people from suffering. Chinese people believe he is the personification of good fortune.

The Lu Star (Lu Xing)

refers to Ursa Major and as Lu is the salary of government officials in feudal China, the Lu star, depicted in the dress of a mandarin, refers to prosperity, rank, and influence.

The Shou Star (Shou Xing)

refers to Canopus, the star of the South Pole, the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina and Argo Navis, which is believed in Chinese Astronomy to control the life spans of mortals. According to legends Shou Xing was nine years in his mothers womb and was born with an high, domed forehead. The God of Longevity is mostly depicted smiling and friendly carrying a peach, a symbol of immortality and sometimes also a gourd filled with the Elixir of Life.