This banner features the motif of Guan Gong, a popular Daoist deity with the Peranakan community. Guan Gong was a historical figure born around 160CE, recognised for his loyalty and righteousness as a great military strategist during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. By the Ming dynasty (15th century), his status was elevated to become one of the central gods of the Daoist pantheon. This religious image was possibly used as an image of worship because of the attributes he is holding – the Guan dao (polearm) signifying his position as ‘god of war’ and the book, representing his status as the ‘god of literature’.
