|
BADGER AND MAGPIE |
Blessing of happiness |
BAMBOO |
Emblem of longevity |
| BAT |
Emblem of good fortune. An
upside-down depiction symbolizes good fortune has arrived. Two bats
together means double good fortune. Five bats stand for the five
blessings: long life, riches, health, love, and a natural death.
|
BEAR/PANDA |
A symbol for man |
| BUTTERFLY |
With Plum Blossoms symbolizes Long
Life and Beauty. With a Cat means wish to live to 70 or 80 years |
CARP |
Advantage or Benefit in Business. |
| CAT |
Protector of silkworms, and disperses evil spirits |
CHRYSANTHEMUM |
Together with plum, peony and lotus symbolizes the four seasons.
Emblem of autumn and symbol of joviality. Also a symbol of long
life, or duration. |
| CICADA |
Immortality, or life
after death |
COCK |
Protection against bad astral influences. Frightens ghosts away at
sunrise by its crowing. Also represents achievement and fame.
|
| CRANE |
Longevity and superhuman
wisdom. Flying cranes into the sky stand for a rise in status. |
CRICKET |
Fighting spirit |
| DEER |
Riches. The only animal
able to find the sacred fungus of immortality.
The God of Longevity usually depicted
mounted on a stag or standing by his side. |
DOUBLE-GOURD |
Heaven and earth. Scrolling
double-gourds, bats and the character "shou" mean a wish for long life and many sons.
|
| DOVE |
Fidelity and longevity |
DRAGON |
Male Vigor and Fertility, also the
symbol for The Emperor. Decoration of a five-clawed dragon was for
imperial use only. Four claws indicates a prince, and three or less
an official. |
|
Dragon & Phoenix |
Man and Wife, also the
symbol for Emperor and Empress. |
DUCK |
Conjugal fidelity. Duck in reeds
means may you do well in your exams. |
| EAGLE |
Strength. Eagle on a
rock in sea symbolizes a hero. |
ELEPHANT |
Strength and astuteness, as well as high moral standards. Riding an
elephant symbolizes happiness. |
| ENDLESS KNOT |
Long life without
setbacks |
FISH |
Wealth. A pair of fish stands for marriage, conjugal felicity,
fertility and tenacity. |
| FISHERMAN |
One of the four basic
occupations (the others being the woodcutter, peasant and the
scholar.) |
GOOSE |
A blissful marriage |
| HORSE |
Speed and perseverance |
LION/FOO
DOGS |
Superhuman strength and as protectors and mounts of holy beings.
Emblems of valor and energy. Also known as "Dogs of Foo" or "Foo
Dogs". They are often depicted in pairs: The male has
a paw on a brocaded ball which represents the jewel of the law, a pearl, or an
egg enclosing a cub. The female has a small cub at her feet, which is oftentimes
biting the mother's tongue. |
| LOTUS |
Purity and perfection,
and symbol of summer and fruitfulness. It is one of the Eight
Treasures of Buddhism.
|
MONKEY |
Ward off evil spirits. The monkey is
often seen holding a peach, which it stole from the garden of Xi
Wang Temple.
|
|
OX/WATER BUFFALO |
Coming of spring |
ONION |
Cleverness |
| PEACH |
Longevity. Also a symbol
for marriage, spring and immortality. It is known as the "fairy
fruit" that gave immortality to the Immortals and was the elixir of
life to the Daoists. |
PEACOCK |
Beauty and dignity. The tail
feathers used from the Ming dynasty to show official rank. |
| PEARL |
The concrete essence of
the moon. Symbol of genius in obscurity, sign of beauty and purity. |
PEONY |
King of flowers. A sign of good
fortune. Symbol of love, affection, feminine beauty, and spring.
|
| PHEASANT |
The imperial symbol of authority or an emblem of office |
PHOENIX |
The empress and beauty. Only appears
in time of peace and prosperity. Ranks second of the four
supernatural creatures, the dragon being the first, the unicorn
third and the tortoise fourth. |
| POMEGRANATE |
Fertility, being full of
seeds, and numerous male progeny. |
PINE
TRESS |
Longevity, Steadfastness, and
Self-Discipline. |
| QUAIL |
Courage because of its
pugnacious character.
|
SHEEP |
Yang...The Male Principle |
| SNAKE |
Cunning, evil and
supernatural power. Also emblem of the Woman. |
THREE-LEGGED TOAD |
Existed only on the moon, which it swallowed during the eclipse.
Symbol of the unattainable. |
| TIGER |
Strength, courage, and bravery |
TORTOISE |
Longevity and immortality |
| WILLOW |
Buddhist symbol of
meekness. Also a sign of spring. Believed to have the powers to
expel demons |
YIN/YANG |
Yin symbolizes the Female Principle
while Yang being the Male Principle. |
