Tianlong and Diya are the paired attendants of Wenchang, a deity associated with literature and examinations in Chinese religious traditions. Their names are 天聾 / 天聋 (tiān lóng, “Heaven-deaf”) and 地啞 / 地哑 (dì yǎ, “Earth-mute”). Textual references, museum records, and temple descriptions document the pair; explanations of their symbolism belong to particular religious traditions […]