Thunder-Struck Wood Taoist Talismans (Three Pieces), H: 15cm, L: 6cm, T: 2.8cm. Taoist ritual utensils from the Qing to the Republican period for monks to perform rituals, made of thunder-struck jujube wood (legend has it that thunder-struck wood has the effect of warding off evil spirits) with red paint applied on the surface. Adopting the relief carving technique to carve Taoist gods and talismans with strong and forceful lines and thick accumulated patina, embodying the "mysterious and solemn" characteristic of Taoist ritual utensils. Thunder-struck wood Taoist talismans from the Qing to the Republican period (1644–1949) are important physical objects of Taoist culture, boasting both religious and folk custom values, and are highly concerned in Taoist cultural relic collection.