How did the tradition of the Door Gods begin? What happened to Emperor Taizhong?
Answer:
The tradition of the Door Gods began when Emperor Taizhong of the Tang Dynasty was troubled by evil spirits. He ordered his two generals, Qin Qiong and Yuchi Jingde, to stand guard at his door. Finding that their presence deterred the spirits, he ordered portraits of them to be painted and hung on the doors to scare away evil spirits. This was the beginning of the Door Gods tradition.