News about the portraits spread far and wide in the country and other artists sold pictures of the two generals to make a profit. People bought the pictures and pasted them on their doors to detain ghosts from entering their houses.

The images were named door gods and the practice of pasting them on doors became a great tradition.

Nowadays -- more than 1,300 years later -- many people still follow the tradition.

 A special door god - Zhong Kui

It is said that Zhong Kui first made his appearance during the reign of Kaiyuan (AD713-742) when the emperor fell ill with a deadly fever. One evening the emperor dreamt of a demon with a "snout like a calf, one foot shod, and the other bare, with the other shoe hanging down from its body and a large bamboo fan stuck in its girdle." This specter had stolen some of the emperor's personal items and was running with them through the palace halls. Suddenly, a giant in a hat and deep blue gown emerged and chased the demon down the hall, gouged out its eyes and devoured it on the spot. When the emperor inquired about the demon eater's identity, he learned that he was Zhong Kui of Zhongnan Mountain who, after failing to secure an honorable military post, vowed to serve the emperor in his afterlife by exterminating all evil specters. Hearing this, the emperor awoke and soon recovered his strength. Seeing this as a good omen, the emperor ordered the painter Wu Daozi to produce a portrait of the demon as a deterrent against demons.

Legend or not, Zhong Kui was adopted by the general populace. From as early as the Song Dynasty (960-1279) it became customary for people to post Zhong's portrait in their households to fend off harmful spirits. Zhong did not normally make his appearance on New Year's but during the summer months when malevolent forces were active.