Ancient art of spring couplets thrives in modern Taiwan
TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan families are preparing to paste spring couplets (春聯), traditional red banners with auspicious phrases, as the Lunar New Year approaches on Feb. 17, continuing a practice that fosters festive cheer and wards off evil spirits. Spring couplets integrate Chinese calligraphy, a cultural treasure spanning over 5,000 years of Chinese history, carrying the ancient artistic spirit of embracing happiness and renewal that remains central to celebrations across Taiwan and Chinese communities worldwide.
The tradition originates from ancient rituals involving the protective deities "Shentu" (神荼) and "Yulei" (鬱壘), believed to catch devils and protect households from malevolent forces. Ancient Chinese placed peach wood bearing their names or images next to doors to exorcise evil spirits during the Lunar New Year. These wooden signs evolved into the spring couplets now cherished as an essential New Year custom across Taiwan and Chinese-speaking communities worldwide.
Spring couplets come in various forms, including door couplets, square-shaped inscriptions and door god couplets, each serving a unique purpose. Door couplets placed on doorways enhance the festive atmosphere with phrases like "May you have abundance year after year" (年年有餘) and "May all your wishes come true" (吉祥如意), while door god couplets specifically ward off evil spirits. Households must avoid inauspicious words and even numbers when pasting couplets, and removing old couplets before affixing new ones symbolizes renewal and ensures negative energy does not linger.
The art also includes single-character inscriptions on diamond shapes, such as "full" (滿) on refrigerators or rice containers symbolizing abundance, and "rich" (財) representing prosperity. For 2026, the Year of the Horse, couplets feature phrases embodying strength and speed, reflecting the horse's symbolic significance in traditional culture. Modern spring couplets embrace creativity, often integrating zodiac imagery or design elements for livelier appearances, yet the essence remains rooted in renewal, protection and the wish for a prosperous new year. ◼