In the Tang Dynasty, there appeared a keeper, Zhong Kui, who not only caught ghosts, but also ate them. Therefore, people often put images of Zhong Kui on their doors on New Year's Eve or Dragon Boat Festival, and Zhong Kui used them to ward off evil spirits. The Chronicle of Yanjing written by Fu Cha Dunchong in the Qing Dynasty said: "Every time you visit Duanyang, you will put a foot of yellow paper on the shop, or draw a statue of Shi Tian and Zhong Kui, or draw a five-poison spell and put it on sale. People rushed to buy and put them on the middle door to avoid worshipping evil spirits. " Its image is leopard head, eyes like rings, nose like hooks, ears like bells, wearing a black hat, black shoes, wearing dahongpao, holding a sword in his right hand and catching ghosts in his left hand, glaring, looking dignified and straight. It is said that his ghost-catching skills and prestige are much higher than those of Shen Di and Lei Yu. As for its origin, according to the records in Volume III of Bu Bi Tan, Volume IV of Tian Zhong Ji and Volume XIV of Fairy Mirror of Past Dynasties, Zhong Kui was originally from Zhong Nanshan, Shaanxi Province, and he was outstanding when he was young. Tang Wude (6 18-627) went to Chang 'an to take a martial arts exam, but he was killed on the steps of the temple because he was ugly. Later, Emperor Xuanzong occasionally went to asplenia and invited many doctors to save him. The effect is not good, and the court is anxious. One night, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty fell asleep and suddenly dreamed that a child had stolen the property in the palace and escaped along the palace wall. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty hastily ordered the arrest, only to see a tall gentleman run to the temple, grabbed the little goat and ate it with his eyes closed. Xuanzong asked him who he was, and he replied, "There is a scholar Zhong Kui missing in martial arts." . Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty woke up and got well the next day, so he asked the painter Wu Daozi to paint a portrait of Zhong Kui, which was exactly the same as what he saw in Xuanzong's dream. Xuanzong was so happy that he hung it on the door of the palace as a guard. Later, Taoism absorbed this belief, and Zhong Kui was often regarded as a judge to exorcise evil spirits and chase ghosts, so Zhong Kui became a Taoist deity to exorcise ghosts and catch ghosts. In addition, Zhong Kui is also widely circulated among the Han people. There are stories about Zhong Kui marrying his sister, Zhong Kui catching ghosts and Zhong Kui hunting at night.
The story of Zhong Kui catching ghosts is very famous among Han people in China. Han people in China have their own customs, hanging supernatural things in the portal to intimidate demons and drive away evil spirits. Shen Tu and Lei Yu are regarded as door gods because they can catch ghosts and feed tigers. This is an example. Another example is Meng Qian Bi Tan, Volume 25: "There are no crabs in Guanzhong. In Yuanfeng, when I heard about Qinchuan people in Shaanxi, I got 1000 crabs. Scholars decorate their shapes and think they are monsters. Abusers often make them suffer by hanging doors with them. Not only people don't know, but ghosts don't know. " After liberation, people's scientific consciousness was enhanced and their superstitious consciousness was weak. In some places, portraits of Liu Hulan and Zhao Yiman, Dong Cunrui and Huang Jiguang, War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, fighting heroes and national heroes during the War of Liberation and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea are posted on the gates on holidays. In this way, the door god is not a door god, but has evolved into a door painting.
Now the content of door painting is more extensive. For example, draw a picture of longevity, a picture of Harvest figure, a picture of the prosperity of six animals, a picture of workers and peasants, a picture of children's joy, a picture of rockets flying, a picture of ten horses prancing, a picture of supporting the government and loving the people, a picture of military and civilian parties, etc.
During the Spring Festival, there are still many statues of Shen Tu, Lei Yu, Qin Qiong and Weichi Gong Gate and portraits of military commanders of past dynasties posted at Hu Min's door, but compared with ancient times, their meanings are completely different. The purpose of posting images of ancient gates is to worship God, Buddha, happiness and peace. Today's door image expresses the yearning and pursuit of peace and happiness.