Joss (god)
Encyclopedia
In the European view of Chinese mythology
, Joss signifies a household deity
as well as his cult image
, which the Portuguese and other Europeans called an "idol
". Joss is not Chinese
, but a corrupted version of the Portuguese
deus for god. Derived words are Joss house, a Chinese temple, and Joss stick, a paste-covered stick that is burned in a religious context.
Joss more recently has also become a colloquial expression for good luck, as in Rip Mattsen's Good Joss Means Good Luck (1974), the first textual documentation of this usage. It is often equated with living in high style and an exclusive lifestyle, as in this review of James Clavell's Noble House
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written tradition. These include creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state...
, Joss signifies a household deity
Household deity
A household deity is a deity or spirit that protects the home, looking after the entire household or certain key members. It has been a common belief in pagan religions as well as in folklore across many parts of the world....
as well as his cult image
Cult image
In the practice of religion, a cult image is a human-made object that is venerated for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents...
, which the Portuguese and other Europeans called an "idol
Idolatry
Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...
". Joss is not Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
, but a corrupted version of the Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
deus for god. Derived words are Joss house, a Chinese temple, and Joss stick, a paste-covered stick that is burned in a religious context.
Joss more recently has also become a colloquial expression for good luck, as in Rip Mattsen's Good Joss Means Good Luck (1974), the first textual documentation of this usage. It is often equated with living in high style and an exclusive lifestyle, as in this review of James Clavell's Noble House