Fu, Lu, and Shou are three «gods» sometimes called the «Three Stars. » Separately, they may be called Fu Xing, Lu Xing, and Shou Xing, «Xing» meaning «star. » Some have identified them with the three stars of Orion's belt. Translations of the names vary. Perhaps «Blessings, Prosperity, and Longevity» are close.
The character fu is «good fortune, blessings, happiness. » It denotes being happy as the result of being lucky. The character is prominently displayed on doors (including the Temple Guy's), often upside-down, as «turn upside-down» and a word meaning «arrive» are homophones, so to say «luck upside-down» sounds like saying «luck is coming. » Lu is «official's salary in feudal China»--that is, a position in the civil service, one of the most desired jobs in old China. The Confucian system of study followed by examination and placement holds sway in all Chinese-based cultures to this day, including Japan. It was certainly a key to «prosperity. » Shou is unambiguously «longevity. » Many images add the character xi, meaning «happiness. » This balances the image if written in characters; it also completes the list of wishes that anyone might have: in Chinese thinking, what could we possibly want that is not covered by blessings, prosperity, longevity, and happiness?
Fuk, Lok, Shou--3 Stars in Feng Shui Wood Sculpture
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