CHINESE TEMPLE STATUE OF AN ANCESTOR IN WOOD FROM THE QING DYNASTY Country: China Period: Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 AD) Material: Wood and pigments Size: 20 cm At the back there is a hole, which normaly is covered. The hole, as acting as a reliquary, contains mostly the following: A piece of paper with a message, prayer, request. Some rice for food. Some herbs for good health. Some cotton for clothing. These statues represented dead ancestors and were placed at the Tao temple or kept at the family house. They were worshiped by the family on special ocassions in order to bring good luck but if neglected, the spirits of the ancestors could turn into evil ghost and cause havoc upon the family.