Folk New Year picture emerged in pre-historical time and was used as the door god. As a rule in social and cultural development, human awareness for door god went from the worship of natural animal, to deifier, and to humanized god. According to historical records, the custom of drawing "a rooster at house entrance; and a tiger on the door" date back in pre historical society. In central
Shaanxi, Baotou of Inner Mongolia, and I Jngbao of Henan, even today, it is still a custom to paste paper-cut of a pair of tigers, or golden roosters, golden cows on the door leaves for safeguard. In northern China, woodcut New year picture from Ming and Qing dynasties still kept the tradition of using the deified tiger and rooster as patron saint for residence. The transition from deified animal to humanized
god started in the Tang Dynasty when images of renowned warriors Qin Shubao and Wei Chigong were worshiped as the door god. As history recorded, "Great Majesty of the Tang Dynasty (Li Shimin) was miffed one night. When he was in bed, he heard the noise of throwing bricks and tiles outside, along with spooky howling. He was scared and told his subjects. Qin Shubao came forward and presented," I'd serve by your majesty's door in military attire with Yuchi Jingde." He granted it. The subsequent nights went by peacefully. The emperor awarded the two generals and ordered the painting of their images to be hanged over the two gates to the palace to keep the spirits away." Later generations followed suit, making those images permanent door gods. Based on this legend, images of
the two generals in military attire became a popular New Year picture as door gods ever since.
