Fu, Lu, and Shou are three deities worshipped by the Han people in China, symbolizing happiness, prosperity, and longevity. Among them, “Fu” wears an official cap and holds a jade ruyi or holds a child, representing the first-rank emperor of heaven, from whom the saying “blessings from the gods of heaven” originates. “Lu” holds a ruyi, symbolizing high rank and generous salary. “Shou” has a white beard, holds a dragon-head staff, and carries a peach of immortality, signifying a long life. After the Ming Dynasty, the Han people often worshipped the God of Longevity together with the Gods of Happiness and Prosperity, collectively known as Fu, Lu, and Shou.
They became the three most popular gods of good fortune and symbols of good luck and happiness. When congratulating someone on their birthday, people often hang a scroll painting of Fu, Lu, and Shou in the main room, with a pair of birthday couplets on both sides, such as “As vast as the East Sea, as long as the Southern Mountain.”
