Description
The character Fú ( 福) meaning “fortune” or “good luck” is represented both as a Chinese ideograph and, at times, pictorially, in one of its homophonous forms. It is often found on a figurine of the male god of the same name, one of the trio of “star gods” Fú, Lù, Shòu.
Mounted Fú are a widespread Chinese tradition associated with Chinese New Year and can be seen on the entrances of many Chinese homes worldwide. The characters are generally printed on a square piece of paper or stitched in fabric. The practice is universal among Chinese people regardless of socioeconomic status, and dates to at least the Song Dynasty (AD 960 – 1279).
传说，民间贴“福”之风开始于姜太公封神之时。各路神仙分派妥当，姜太公的老婆马氏也来讨神位。姜太公无奈，便把她封为“穷神”，并规定凡是贴了“福”字的地方不能去。于是，老百姓便家家贴“福”、燃放鞭炮，驱赶这位不受欢迎的“穷神”。
“福”字现今的解释是“幸福”，而在过去则指“福气”、“福运”。春节贴“福”字，无论是现今还是过去，都寄托了人们对幸福生活的向往，也是对美好未来的祝愿。民间为了更充分地体现这种向往和祝愿，干脆将“福”字倒过来贴，表示“幸福已倒”“福气已到”。
“福”字倒贴在民间还有一则传说。明太祖朱元璋当年用“福”字作暗记准备杀人。好心的马皇后为消除这场灾祸，令全城大小人家必须在天明之前在自家门上贴上一个“福”字。马皇后的旨意自然没人敢违抗，于是家家门上都贴了“福”字。其中有户人家不识字，竟把“福”字贴倒了。第二天，皇帝派人上街查看，发现家家都贴了“福”字，还有一家把“福”字贴倒了。皇帝听了禀报大怒，立即命令御林军把那家满门抄斩。马皇后一看事情不好，忙对朱元璋说：“那家人知道您今日来访，故意把福字贴倒了，这不是“福到”的意思吗？”皇帝一听有道理，便下令放人，一场大祸终于消除了。从此人们便将福字倒贴起来，一求吉利，二为纪念马皇后。
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