Works of art revolving round Hehe culture are displayed at an exhibition on Chinese culture which opened at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, on May 2. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

Twenty-one works of art related to Hehe culture were displayed at an exhibition on Chinese culture which opened at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, on May 2.

The works, including paintings, sculptures, paper-cut works and embroidery works, proved to be popular.

Hehe culture is considered one of three major cultures in East China's Zhejiang province, with Taizhou's Tiantai county believed to be its birthplace.

According to local folklore, two monks named Hanshan and Shide once lived a secluded life on Tiantai Mountain in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). They were usually depicted in paintings holding a box and a lotus stem.

Hanshan was bestowed the title of He God during the rule of Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), while Shide was conferred the title of Ho God.

Because He and Ho are auspicious figures in Chinese culture, the two gods became a symbol of unity and harmony for hundreds of years.