Commonly worshipped by the Peranakans, the ‘Three Star Gods’ or San Xing (三星), (Hock, Lock, and Siew in Hokkien), are a trio of Chinese deities that are said to represent happiness, prosperity and longevity. The oldest of the three, Shou Xing (寿星) is portrayed here holding a knurled wooden staff. Lu Xing (禄 星) is said to be the tallest and is always placed in the middle. Here, he holds a decorative baton or ruyi of high courtly rank, although he is more popularly shown bearing a large gold ingot. Fu Xing (福星) is portrayed holding a young infant, symbolic of the hope for healthy children. The trio are typically portrayed in portraits, relief carvings or sculpture known as San Xing Tu. The San Xing Tu shown here is representative of the enamelled porcelain sets typically found in the homes of wealthier Peranakan families in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
