Visual and Spoken Puns

One of the peculiarities of the Chinese language is that it has a very large number of
written characters but a much smaller number of spoken sounds. As a result, many
Chinese characters share the same pronunciation, i.e. are homonyms.
The charms of the Ming (1368 - 1644 AD) and Qing (Ch'ing) (1644 - 1911 AD)
dynasties, in particular, frequently took advantage of this characteristic. The charms
may use depictions of animals, plants and other objects to substitute for other words
because of their similarity in pronunciation, even though they may not have any other
relationship to what is being expressed. This is what I mean by a hidden or implied
meaning or visual pun, and what the Chinese refer to as auspicious or lucky pictures
(jixiangtuan ). A more technical term would be a rebus.

Chinese Symbols and Their Meanings

Since a fundamental difference between old Chinese coins and charms has to do with
the use of symbols, a basic understanding of the language of the symbols is needed to
fully appreciate Chinese charms. Listed below, in alphabetical order, is a
comprehensive list of objects that include those which have become symbols because
of their similar pronunciation to auspicious Chinese words. Also included are other
objects frequently seen on charms which have become symbols due to mythology,
history or cultural associations.

Apple

An apple can be a visual pun for peace because the Chinese word for
apple (pingguo ) and the word for peace (pingan ) are both
pronounced ping.
A persimmon (shi ) paired with an apple (pingguo ) forms the
rebus "may your matters (shi ) be safe (pingan )".

Apricot

An apricot grove, or field of apricots, is a symbol for success in the

imperial examination system because the very first celebration honoring
successful candidates allegedly took place in an apricot grove.

) has the same pronunciation as "happiness" (fu ) and as

Axe (axe
head)

The axe (fu

Bamboo

Bamboo symbolizes the ideals of a Confucian scholar because both are

perceived as upright, strong and resilient while still being gentle, graceful
and refined.
Bamboo also represents the ideals of the Taoists (Daoists) because it can
bend during the worst weather but not break.
The bamboo is a member of the Three Friends in Winter.
Bamboo depicted on a charm is also a pun because the Chinese word for
bamboo (zhu ) and the Chinese word for "to wish" or "to

a weapon symbolizes power and the ability to punish.

The axe head is also one of the Twelve Imperial Symbols.
The axe is also the symbol of Lu Ban () who is known as the God of
Carpenters.
In Buddhism, the axe symbolizes the destruction of evil.
The axe can also refer to a marriage matchmaker.

congratulate" (zhu ) are pronounced the same.

Because it has a "hollow center" (kongxu ), bamboo also symbolizes
"modesty" (qianxu ) because the second character for both has the
same pronunciation (xu).
Bamboo was traditionally used to frighten away evil spirits, such as the
mythical beast Nian (), because when placed in a fire it would create a
loud crackling sound similar to firecrackers.
A charm with the bamboo symbol may be seen at Liu Hai and the ThreeLegged Toad.
Bamboo tallies, a type of token currency that circulated in parts of
eastern China during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period,
are discussed in detail at Bamboo Tallies.

Bat

A picture of a bat (fu ) can be a visual pun for "good fortune" or

happiness (fu ) because both characters are pronounced fu. Often the
bat is shown flying upside down because the character (dao ) for
"upside-down" and the character (dao ) meaning "to have arrived" are
both pronounced dao. Therefore, if a person were to say "the bat is
flying upside down" a listener could just as easily hear this as "happiness
has arrived" which, of course, has a very auspicious connotation. (View
charms with"upside down" bat and eight treasures, Zhong Kui, Zhong
Kui,Liu Hai, and deer.)
Additionally, "a bat descending from the sky" (fuzi tianlai )
sounds exactly like "happiness descends from heaven" (fuzi tianlai
).
Two bats facing each other mean double good fortune or happiness.
Some charms display five bats which stand for the "Five Blessings",
namely longevity, wealth, health and composure, virtue, and the desire to
die a natural death in old age. (View five bat charm.)
A very popular design found in many traditional Chinese houses consists
of five bats surrounding the Chinese character for "longevity" (shou)
which represents the expression wu fu peng shou ( ) or "five
fortunes surround longevity". (See Chinese House and Open Work
Charms)
A Chinese charm or coin with a square central hole is sometimes referred
to as an "eye coin" (yanqian ). The Chinese word for coin or money
(qian ) is pronounced the same as the word for "before" (qian ).
Therefore, a picture of a bat (fu ) on (zai ) an "eye coin" (yanqian
) creates a visual pun since saying there is a "bat on the coin" (fu zai
yan qian) sounds exactly like saying "happiness is before your eyes" (fu
zai yan qian ).
Bats live in caves which represent portals to the beyond.

Bear

The bear (xiong ) is not often depicted on Chinese charms and amulets
but it is a powerful animal that the Chinese believe can invoke fear in
evil spirits just as well as humans.
However, the bear is sometimes shown with an eagle because eagle or
hawk (ying ) and bear (xiong ) together sound just like the word
"hero" (yingxiong ).

Boar

See entry for pig below.

Bran

Bran (wheat bran) is an auspicious fertility symbol at marriages because

its pronunciation (fu zi ) sounds the same as "rich son" (fu zi )
thus representing the wish that the couple will produce children who will
become wealthy.

Buddha's See entry for citron below.

Hand
Butterfly

The butterfly is a symbol of long life because the second character in

butterfly (hudie ) has exactly the same pronounciation as the
character (die) which means "70 or 80 years of age".
The butterfly also signifies joy and warmth.

Cabbage

The cabbage (baicai or qingcai ) is a symbol for wealth

because it has the same pronunciation as the word "money" or
"wealth" (cai ).

Calamus
(Sweet
Flag)

Calamus (chang pu ), also known as "sweet flag", is a plant with

long and stiff leaves which resemble swords.
Since swords provide protection, hanging calamus above gates and doors
is believed to help protect from evil spirits, disease and misfortune.

Carp

The carp fish is a commonly seen visual pun because the Chinese
character for carp (li ) is pronounced the same as both the character (li
) for "profit" and the character (li ) for "strength" or "power".
The carp is also a symbol for an abundance of children because it
produces many eggs.
A pair of carp symbolizes a harmonious marriage.
A frequently seen image is of a carp swimming and leaping against the
current of a river to reach the spawning grounds. This refers to the
legend (liyutiaolongmen ) that a carp which is able to leap
over the mythical "Dragon Gate" will become a dragon. This is an
allegory for the persistent effort needed to overcome obstacles.
See a carp fish charm at Fish Charms.
The carp used for medicine was the quest in a famous story of Wang
Xiang and filial piety.
See a reference to the carp/dragon allegory and the horns of Kuixing
(God of Examinations) at Auspicious Inscriptions.
Additional information can be found at the entry for fish below.

Cassia
The cassia is an evergreen plant with bright yellow flowers that is
(Cinnamo sometimes incorrectly referred to as Chinese cinnamon.
n)
The cassia is closely associated with the myth of Chang'e ("Moon
Goddess") and the "Moon Hare" ("Jade Rabbit").
In Chinese, cassia (gui ) has the same pronunciation as the word for
"high rank" (gui ).
Cassia and peaches together represent "high rank" and "longevity".
Cassia and seeds (lotus, pomegranate, gourd) together expresses the
desire for many sons who will achieve high office.
The cassia represents success in the imperial examination system which
is explained in detail at Auspicious Inscriptions.
See also "Cassia and Orchid" Charm.

Castanets A symbol that resembles an "X" is sometimes found on Chinese charms.

This is actually a pair of wooden clappers or castanets crossed one over
the other.
The Chinese call these castanets or clappers yin yang ban (
).
It is believed that castanets were originally derived from the narrow
tablet (hu ) that an official would carry authorizing his access to the
imperial palace. Depending upon rank, these tablets were made of jade,
ivory, bamboo and shark's skin, or bamboo and jade.
The castanets are also the symbol associated with Cao Guojiu ( ),
one of the Eight Immortals.
A charm displaying a pair of castanets or yin yang ban may be seen at
Auspicious Inscriptions.
Cat

The cat (mao ) symbolizes wishes for a long life because it has the
same pronunciation as the word for an 80 year old or
"octogenarian" (mao ).
The cat is also the protector of silkworms because it can ward off and kill
mice and rats which attack these producers of silk thread.
See the cat at The Five Poisons.

Chestnut

The Chinese word for chestnut (lizi ) sounds exactly like saying
"establishing" (li ) "sons" or "children" (zi ) and therefore is a good
luck symbol for creating a family.
The Chinese refer to the eight-sided holes found on many Tang and Song
Dynasty coins as flower or chestnut holes.
The first character in chestnut (li ) sounds the same as "etiquette" or
"manners" (li ) and symbolizes those qualities in women.

Chopstick Chopsticks (kuai zi ) symbolize the hope for newlyweds to have

s
children quickly because the pronunciation is the same as "fast" (kuai
) "sons" (zi ). (See Chinese Marriage.)

Chime
Stone

The chime stone (qing ) was a percussion musical instrument in

ancient China. Each chime stone was flat and shaped similar to a
chevron. A small hole at the top center allowed the stone to be hung
from a frame. The musical instrument consisted of a set of 8 to 24 of
these chime stones with each tuned to a different pitch. When struck
with a mallet the chime stone produced a musical sound.
Since many chime stones were made of jade, the chime stone also
symbolizes wealth and riches.
The stone chime (qing ) has the same pronunciation, and thus the
hidden meaning, of to "congratulate" (qing ).
The chime stone is also considered one of the Eight Treasures.
See a charm displaying a chime stone at Auspicious Inscriptions.

Chrysanth The chrysanthemum signifies the tenth month of the lunar calendar.
emum
The chrysanthemum, one of the Four Gentlemen, blooms late and in
facing the winter symbolizes people who maintain their virtue despite
adversity and temptation.
Chrysanthemum (ju ) sometimes is a symbol for "forever" (yongjiu
), and thus meaning "longevity", because of the similarity in
pronunciation. For the same reason, the chrysanthemum can also stand
for the number "nine" (jiu ).
See the chrysanthemum symbol on an unusual charm at Chinese Boy
Charms.
Cicada

The cicada is a symbol of rebirth and immortality because after surviving

underground for a long period of time it emerges and flies into the sky.

Citron or The citron is a bright yellow lemon-like fruit with a thick rind and long
Buddha's finger-like tendrils. Because it resembles the familiar hand position of
Hand
the Buddha, the citron has the auspicious Chinese name of foshou ()
which literally means "Buddha's Hand".
The name foshou sounds very similar to the words fu ( happiness) and
shou ( longevity) and therefore the citron is a symbol for "happiness
and longevity".
The citron is one of the "Three Abundances" (Three Plenties).

Clouds

Clouds, sometimes referred to as "auspicious clouds" (xiangyun ),

represent the heavens and also "good luck" because the Chinese word for
cloud (yun ) is pronounced the same as yun () meaning "luck" or
"fortune".
Its form often resembles the auspicious shape of the lingzhi "fungus of
immortality".
The cloud is a commonly seen design and when repeated in a pattern
symbolizes never-ending fortune.
For a comprehensive discussion of the relationship of the cloud, dragon,
star, and moon symbols please visit Charm Symbols: Star, Moon, Cloud
and Dragon.
Auspicious clouds may be seen on coins and charms at the following:
Auspicious Inscriptions, Chinese Coins with Charm Features, Buddhist
Charms, Daoist Charms.

Coin

Chinese coins are a potent symbol of wealth and prosperity.

The coin is one of the "Eight Treasures".
Ancient Chinese coins are round with a square hole in the middle which
reflects the Chinese view of the earth as square and the heavens as a
circle.
A coin (qian ) can be a visual pun for "before your eyes" because the
hole in the center is called an "eye" and the coin (qian) has the same
pronunciation as the word "before" (qian ).
An old word for coin is quan (). A pair of coins is shuang quan ()
which has the same pronunciation as "both complete" (shuang quan
).
See a charm incorporating a "pair of coins" as a visual pun or rebus at
Bagua Charms.
For a history, including images, of ancient Chinese coins and other forms
of money please visit Chinese Coins.

Coral

Coral (shanhu ) is included as one of the Eight Treasures and

symbolizes longevity and official promotion.
As a symbol of longevity, the Chinese have traditionally believed that
coral represents an "iron tree" (tieshu ) that grew under the sea and
blossomed only once every hundred years.
Red coral is considered particularly auspicious because the Chinese
believe the color red signifies good luck, good fortune, and happiness.
(See ribbons and fillets for more about the color red.)
Coral resembles deer antlers and deer are symbols of longevity.
Coral is also a symbol of official promotion because a coral button on the
hat identified one of the nine grades of government officials.

Crab

The Chinese word for crab () and the Chinese word for harmony ()
are both pronounced xie. The crab symbol is sometimes used on charms
which express a desire for peace such as the large tian xia tai ping (
) charm shown at Peace Coins and Charms.
The crab is also used to symbolize success in the imperial examination
system. This is because the Chinese word for the crab's shell (jia ) has
the additional meaning of "first" as in achieving the highest score in the
examination to become a government official.
An example of a charm depicting a crab with this hidden meaning can be
seen at Eight Treasures.

Crane

The crane (he ) is believed by the Chinese to live to a very old age and
therefore is a symbol of longevity.
The crane's white feathers also represent old age.
A crane standing alone can represent success in becoming a high
government official as seen on a charm at Pendant Charms.
To see a crane on other old charms please visit Daoist (Taoist) Charms
and Auspicious Inscriptions.
Myths describe spirits and immortals as riding on cranes.
The souls of the dead are said to be carried to the heavens by cranes.
The image of the crane was embroidered on the robes of high
government officials.
Because the pronunciation (he) is the same as that for the word
"harmony" (he ), the crane is sometimes shown on charms to imply a
good and harmonious marriage.
(Nowadays, the "crane" is humorously referred to as the "national bird of
China". In this case, however, the "crane" refers to the large machines
used to lift heavy objects to the top of buildings as part of China's major
construction boom!)

Cypress

Because the Chinese word for cypress (bai ) is pronounced the same as
the word for "one hundred" (bai ), the cypress is frequently paired with
other symbols to express "many" or "everything".
Cypress leaves were used in traditional Chinese weddings.

Date

The date fruit or Chinese jujube (zao ) conveys the meaning that
something is going to happen soon because it has the same pronunciation
as the word for "early" or "soon" (zao ).
For this reason, dates were placed on bridal beds and the wood of the
date tree was used to construct beds for children.

Deer

Deer are among the most frequently seen animals on charms. The
Chinese character for deer is which is pronounced lu. The Chinese
character , which refers to the salary a government official receives, is
also pronounced lu. A picture of a deer is therefore expressing a wish for
a top government office with a high salary.
The Chinese believe the deer lives to a very great age and, as a result, has
become a symbol for long life.
The deer is traditionally believed to be the only animal able to find the
magical lingzhi fungus of immortality.
The deer is often seen by the side of Shou, the God of Longevity.
The deer often is used as a verbal pun to refer to the God of Prosperity
which has the same pronunciation (lu).
The deer as a symbol used on charms may be seen at the following: Men
Plow, Women Weave, Eight Treasures, and Auspicious Inscriptions.

Dog

The dog (gou ) is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Door
Gods

The Door Gods are images of two warriors, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, which
are hung on gates or doors to protect against evil spirits and misfortune.
See Peach Charms for more information on the Door Gods.
Images of the Door Gods on the gate of a traditional Chinese house may
be seen at The Chinese House, Good Fortune and Harmony with Nature.

Dragon

The dragon (long ) is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.
The dragon is believed to live in the mountains or in the seas and can fly
into the heavens.
Unlike the dragons of Europe, the Chinese dragon symbolizes
benevolence, prosperity, longevity and the renewal of life.
Ancient Chinese believed the dragon brought rain, good harvests and
fertility.
The dragon is the symbol of the emperor when it has five claws.
The dragon is yang and associated with the east and spring.
Conjoined dragon and phoenix represent the union of a man and a
woman.
For a more detailed discussion of the dragon symbol please see yinyang
and the five elements as the basis for star, moon, cloud and dragon
symbols.
Dragon charms with two dragons may be seen at: Open Work Charms
and Auspicious Inscriptions.
Charms with a dragon and phoenix may be seen at: Marriage Charms and
Auspicious Inscriptions.

Dragonfly The dragonfly (qingting ) represents the Confucian ideal of pureness

of character because its pronunciation is similar to the word for "pure" or
"clear" (qing ).
The dragonfly also symbolizes the season of summer.
Ducks
Mandarin ducks (yuanyang or xi ) are believed to mate for life
(Mandarin and, therefore, a pair of mandarin ducks symbolize fidelity, conjugal
Ducks)
affection, peace and prosperity.
Dumpling Chinese dumplings (with meat or vegetable stuffing) symbolize wealth or
s (jiaozi) riches because they are boat-shaped and thus resemble the silver ingots
or sycee used in ancient China as money.
The word dumpling (jiaozi ) has the same pronunciation as the first
paper money (jiaozi ) used in China which was during the early
Song Dynasty.
Ancient Chinese placed actual coins in dumplings with the wish that
whoever found the coins would enjoy prosperity and good luck.
Jiaozi has the hidden meaning of wishing for a large family because jiao
() means "to have sexual intercourse" and zi () means "son" or
"child".
Dumplings stuffed with dates express a hope for the "early" birth of sons.
Dumplings resemble the crescent moon and a wish for a year of
abundance.
Eagle
(Hawk)

The eagle or hawk (ying ) symbolizes a "hero" (yingxiong )

Egret

See entry for heron below.

Eight (8)

The number eight (ba ) is the most auspicious number because its

because the pronunciation is the same.

See also entry for bear above.

pronunciation, particularly in southern dialects, is very similar to

"prosper" or "wealth" (fa cai ).

Eight
The Eight Immortals () are eight daoists who have attained
Immortals immortality and include:
1) Han Zhongli (), also known as Zhongli Quan (), was a
Han Dynasty general and is usually shown carrying a feather fan which
he uses to revive the dead.
2) Lu Dongbin ( ), known for his drinking and fighting abilities,
carries a demon-slaying sword. He also carries a fly whisk which he uses
to walk on clouds, fly to heaven, and sweep away ignorance.
3) Zhang Guolao () rides a donkey, sometimes seated backwards,
and carries a tube-shaped bamboo musical instrument called a yugu (
).
4) Li Tieguai ( ), known as "Li with the iron crutch", is a crippled
beggar who carries a gourd filled with a magic elixir.
5) He Xiangu () is the only female in the group and usually
carries a kitchen ladle, lotus, peach or fly whisk. She is known for her
filial devotion, ability to resolve domestic disputes and is seen as the
patron of household management.
6) Han Xiangzi () carries a flute and can predict the future and
make fruits and flowers grow out of season. He represents youth and is
seen as the patron of fortune-tellers.
7) Cao Guojiu () carries a ruyi sceptre or castanets which are two
long "clappers" thought to symbolize the ceremonial tables required for
admission to the imperial court. How he became an immortal is
described in the Ming Dynasty novel "Journey to the West".
8) Lan Caihe (), depicted as a male or female or hermaphrodite,
usually holds a fruit/flower basket, a bowl or a flute and whose story is
also told in "Journey to the West".

Eight
The "Eight Treasures" (babao ), also known as the "Eight Precious
Treasures Things" and the "Eight Auspicious Treasures", may consist of eight
ordinary symbols, the eight precious organs of the Buddha's body, the
eight auspicious signs, or the various emblems of the eight Taoist
Immortals. The most commonly seen members of the Eight Treasures
include the coin, ruyi sceptre, coral, chime stone, lozenge, rhinoceros
horn, silver ingot and the flaming pearl.
In Buddhism, the Eight Treasures (Eight Auspicious Symbols) include
the lotus (purity/enlightenment), Wheel of the Dharma (knowledge),
treasure vase (wealth), conch shell (Buddha's thoughts), victory banner
(Buddha's teachings conquer all), endless knot (harmony), parasol
(protection) and fish pair (happiness in marriage).
Elephant

The elephant is considered an auspicious animal because the Chinese

character for "elephant" (xiang ) has the same pronunciation as the
Chinese word for "auspicious" or "lucky" (xiang ).
The elephant is sometimes shown carrying a "treasure" vase (bao ping
) on its back. Since the word "vase" (ping ) has the same
pronunciation as the word for "peace" (pingan ), the implied
meaning is "may you have 'good luck' (elephant) and 'peace' (vase)".
"Elephant Chess" (xiangqi ), also known as "Chinese Chess", is an
ancient and popular board game. (Ancient "elephant chess" pieces may
be seen at "Old Chinese Chess Pieces".)

Fish

The Chinese character for fish (yu ) is pronounced the same as the
Chinese character for "abundance" or "surplus" (yu ). The fish symbol
is, therefore, frequently associated with other symbols and Chinese
characters to symbolize the wish for "more" in the sense of "more" good
luck, good fortune, long life and children. (Please see images at Ancient
Chinese Fish Charms and Chinese Open Work Charms.)
As an example, to express the wish for "having more happiness year after
year" a charm may use the Chinese character (nian) for year, and also
include a picture of a fish, a lotus and a magpie. The fish (yu )
represents "more" (yu ). The character for lotus and the character
meaning "in succession or one after another", as in expressing year
after year, are both pronounced lian. The magpie (xi que ) is
pronounced the same as happiness . So the fish, lotus, magpie and the
Chinese character (year) together would have the implied meaning of
"more" "happiness" "year after year".
Because of its reproductive abilities, the fish also represents fertility in
marriage.
Two fish, or a pair of fish (shuang yu ), represent happiness in
marriage.
While fish charms are fairly common, it is rare to find a fish symbol on a
real Chinese coin although one can be seen at Ancient Chinese Coins
with Charm Features.
See carp for additional information on the fish symbol.

Five
Blessings
(Happines
ses, Good
Fortunes)

According to the ancient Chinese classic the "Book of History" (shujing

or shangshu ), also known as the "Classic of History", there
are "Five Blessings" (wufu ), also known as the "Five Happinesses"
or "Five Good Fortunes", which refer to longevity (shou ), wealth (fu
), health and composure (kangning

), virtue (xiu hao de ),

and the desire to die a natural death in old age (lao zhong ming ).
Popular among the Chinese people is another set of "five blessings"
which consists of good fortune (fu ), government official salary (lu
), longevity (shou ), joy (xi ) and valuables or property (cai ).
The "Five Blessings" can be represented by five bats as seen at Gourd
Charms, Open Work Charms and Chinese House.
A charm with an inscription referring to the "Five Blessings" may be
seen at Auspicious Inscriptions.
Five
Poisons

The five poisons (), also known as the "Five Poisonous Creatures",
refer to five poisonous animals which usually include the snake,
scorpion, centipede, toad and spider.
Sometimes, the lizard replaces the spider.
The "three-legged toad" is frequently included as one of the five.
The Chinese believe the five poisons counteract pernicious influences by
combating poison with poison.

Fly Whisk The fly whisk is a simple tool used to swat or sweep away flies.
The "fly whisk" became a symbol associated with certain Daoist (Taoist)
immortals and Buddhist deities which was used to "sweep away"
ignorance.
Lu Dongbin and He Xianghu, both members of the Eight Immortals, are
frequently depicted as carrying a fly whisk.
Four
The "four blessings" (si fu ) are happiness (xi ), salary of a high
Blessings official (lu ), longevity (shou ), and good luck (good fortune) (fu
).

Four
The Four Divine Creatures, also known as the Four Heraldic Animals,
Divine
Four Directional Animals, and Four Symbols (si xiang ), symbolize
Creatures the four directions and an associated season as follows: Vermillion (Red)
Bird (zhuque ) south and summer; White Tiger (baihu ) west
and autumn; Azure Dragon (qinglong ) east and spring; black
tortoise coiled around by a snake known as the Black Tortoise (Black
Warrior) (xuanwu ) north and winter. (See also entries for "Tortoise"
and "Snake" below)
A coin displaying the four directions and the 28 mansions associated
with the Four Divine Creatures may be seen at Chinese Astronomy
Coins.
Four
Gentleme
n or Four
Plants of
Virtue

The Four Gentlemen (sijunzi ), also known as the Four Plants of

Virtue, include the plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum.
Each of these plants represents one of the seasons. The orchid represents
spring. The bamboo represents summer. The chrysanthemum represents
autumn and the plum represents winter.
The four plants together represent a year.
The plum and bamboo together signify friendship.

Four
A picture of two boys joined in a clever way to give the illusion that
Happiness there are four boys. This "good luck" picture is frequently given to
Boys
newlyweds with the wish that they will have many children. The story
and history is explained at "Four Happiness Boys".
Four
The "Four Happinesses" (si fu ) comes from a poem by Hong Mai
Happiness ( 1123-1202) of the Song Dynasty:
es
1) "Sweet rain after a long drought" (jiu han feng gan yu )
2) "Meeting an old friend in a faraway place" (ta xiang yu gu zhi
)
3) "The wedding night" (literally: "the night of lighting a candle in the
bridal chamber" (dong fang hua zhu ye )
4) "Having one's name on the list of successful candidates of the imperial
examination" (jin bang ti ming shi )
The "Four Happinesses" is the theme of this old Chinese carved wooden
window.

Frog

The frog (wa ) is a symbol of fertility because it has the same

pronunciation as the word for baby (wa ).
See also entry for toad.

Fu Lu
Shou

Fu Lu Shou refers to the three Chinese deities of the God of Happiness

(Fu), the God of Prosperity (Lu), and the God of Longevity (Shou).
A "Fu Lu Shou" charm may be seen at Lock Charms.

Fungus
Lingzhi ( ), also known as the glossy ganoderma, is the sacred
(Lingzhi) fungus of immortality that grows on the trunks or roots of trees including
(Fungus of
Immortality the pine.
)
The lingzhi does not decay like other fungus but instead becomes woody
and thus can survive for a long time. For this reason, it has become
associated with longevity.
It was also believed to grow on the "Three Islands of the Immortals"
where immortals lived.
Deer are reputed to be the only animals able to find lingzhi. Deer and
crane are sometimes shown holding the lingzhi in their mouth.
To see a charm depicting the lingzhi, deer and pine, please visit Pendant
Charms.
Goat

The goat is a reference to an ancient myth, discussed at Five Goat Coin,

concerning a great famine in Guangzhou (Canton), Guangdong Province.
Please also see entry for sheep below.

God of
Examinati
ons (Star
of
Literature)

Kuixing () is known as the God of Examinations or the Star of

Literature. He was considered to have been influential in helping
candidates pass the imperial civil service examinations.
He is depicted as an ugly man (sometimes as a dwarf) with short horns,
and holding a writing brush in his right hand and a scholar's hat (or peck
measure) in his left. He is usually standing on the head of a large fish or
a mythical turtle known as ao ().
The horns on his head represent success by alluding to the analogy of the
carp fish jumping over the mythical Dragon Gate and turning into a
dragon.

God of
Happiness
(Fu), God
of Luck,
God of
Good
Fortune
and
Blessings

Fu (), which means good luck, fortune, blessings and happiness, refers
to the "God of Happiness" who was originally a heavenly star known as
the "Lucky Star" (fuxing ). He is also known as the "God of Good
Fortune and Blessings" and as the "God of Luck".
Early Taoism (Daoism) had three gods known as the "Three
Officials" (sanguan ) or "Three Immortals". One was named the
"Heavenly Official who grants fortune" tianguancifu () and it
was he who later became better known as the "God of Happiness".
A "Fu Lu Shou" and "Three Immortals" charm is at Ancient Chinese
Lock Charms.

God of
Shou (), also referred to as Shou Lao (), the "Old Immortal of the
Longevity South Pole" (nanjixianweng ), and the "Longevity
(Shou)
Star" (shouxing ), is the God of Longevity and is usually shown as a
smiling old gentleman with a prominent forehead who holds a walking
stick and carries a peach (tao ). As his name implies, Shou symbolizes
a long life.
Longevity was important to Confucians because they believed that
wisdom came with age.
Longevity was important to Taoists (Daoists) because of their quest for
immortality.
Shou is one of the "Three Officials" (sanguan ) along with the God
of Happiness (Fu) and the God of Prosperity (Lu).
See also Lock Charms.

God of
Prosperity
(Lu), God
of Rank
and
Emolume
nt

Lu (), also known as the God of Prosperity, the God of Rank and
Emolument, and the God of High Ranking Office, is usually shown
holding a ruyi ( ) which was originally a short sword with a swordguard used for self-defense or gesturing but now symbolizes good wishes
("may things go as you wish") and prosperity. He is a member of the
Three Officials, also known as the Three Immortals.
He was originally a heavenly star known as the "Prosperity Star" (luxing
) and was believed to govern a person's success in a career.
The God of Prosperity is closely associated with the auspicious saying
"may office and salary be bestowed upon you" ( ). Please see
the four character charm at Auspicious Inscriptions.
See also Lock Charms.

God of
Thunder
(Lei
Gong)

The God of Thunder (Lei Shen ), also known as the Duke of

God of
War
(Guan Di
or Guan
Gong)

Guan Di (

Thunder (Lei Gong ), is the Daoist god responsible for punishing

humans who have committed certain crimes and evil spirits which have
harmed humans.
He uses a drum to create thunder.
Lei Gong is portrayed as being half eagle, with wings and a beak, and
half human.
Many Daoist charms seek the assistance of the God of Thunder in
expelling evil influences and spirits, and bringing good fortune.
), also known as Guan Gong (

War.
His real name was Guan Yu (

), is the Daoist God of

).

He was originally a beancurd seller who joined forces with Liu Bei (
) and became immortalized as a military hero during the period of the
Three Kingdoms (220-280 AD).
The God of War fights evil and is usually shown carrying a large
broadsword.
A Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty coin is believed to provide protection from evil
because one of the Manchu characters in its inscription resembles the
broadsword of the God of War.

God of
The God of Wealth (caishen ) is a very popular Chinese deity whose
Wealth
presence is thought to ensure wealth and success. He is depicted with a
(Cai Shen) long beard and wearing either an official's gown or military dress. He is
usually shown holding or being surrounded by symbols of wealth such as
coins, ingots, coral, etc. He is often shown holding a sword in his right
hand raised above his head and wearing a distinctive hat with ear flaps.
He is sometimes depicted as riding a black tiger.
A bamboo tally with an image of Cai Shen may be seen at Bamboo
Tallies.
Gods of
Peace and
Harmony
(Hehe
erxian)

These twin laughing immortals are known as the Gods of Peace and
Harmony, the Gods of Unity and Harmony, Hehe erxian (), the
Laughing Twins and the Gods of Mirth.
One twin is named Shi De () who usually holds a lotus. The other
twin is Han Shan () who may hold a round box, ruyi sceptre, gourd,
coin, persimmon, etc.
They represent harmony and mirth and bestow blessings on marriages.

Goldfish

The goldfish (jinyu ) is a symbol for wealth because its first

character (jin ) means "gold" and its second character (yu) sounds like
jade (yu ).
Goldfish also symbolize abundant wealth because the first character (jin)
means gold and the second character (yu) has the same pronunciation as
the word for "abundance" or "surplus" (yu ).
See entry for fish above.

Gourd

The gourd is popular as a charm symbol to ward off evil spirits and
disease because its first character (hulu ) has the same pronunciation
as the word to "protect" or "guard" (hu ) and also the word for
"blessing" (hu ).
In some dialects, the Chinese word for gourd (hulu

) sounds the

same as fulu ( ) which means "happiness and rank (as in attaining a

high government office)".
Trailing gourd vines are described in Chinese as man (). This character
can also be pronounced as wan and has the exact same pronunciation and
meaning as which means "10,000". Because the gourd contains many
seeds, the Chinese associate the gourd with "10,000 children". In ancient
China, parents hoped for many sons and grandsons so the gourd became
an important symbol for a family with many children.
Additional information is provided at gourd charms.
Halberd

The halberd (ji ) is an ancient Chinese infantry weapon consisting of a

shaft with a spear and/or crescent-shaped blade on one end.
The Chinese word for "halberd" (ji ) and the Chinese word for "lucky"
or "auspicious" () are both pronounced ji. A halberd is a visual pun or
rebus for "lucky" as can be see on an old seal script charm at Auspicious
Inscriptions.
The Chinese word for "halberd" (ji ) also has the same pronunciation,
and thus is a pun, for the word "rank" or "grade" (ji ) as in reference to
an official position in the government.

Heron
(Egret)

The heron or egret can represent a "path" or "way" because the Chinese
word lu () has the same pronunciation as road or path (lu ).
The heron or egret (lu ) can also symbolize wealth because the
pronunciation is the same as an "official's salary" (lu ).

Horse

The horse (ma ) is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and
symbolizes speed, power and perseverance.
The horse is usually depicted as the bearer of good things. For example,
a galloping horse with several scrolls (the Yellow River Diagrams) tied
on its back represents the bringing of the origins of Chinese culture to the
legendary Chinese leader Fuxi.
The horse can be a symbol for the Mongols (Yuan Dynasty) because their
culture is strongly associated with the horse.
Please see Ancient Chinese Horse Coins for additional information.

Kitchen
God
(Zaojun)

Zaojun (

), also known as Zaowang (

), is the popular "Kitchen

God" or "Stove God" in charge of the household whose image is found in

almost all traditional Chinese homes.
Please see The Chinese House for a more detailed discussion of Zaojun.

Lion

The lion is considered to be a brave and intelligent animal and thus

symbolizes power and majesty.
The Chinese word for lion (shi ) has the same pronunciation and can
be a visual pun or rebus for "teacher", "master", "tutor" or
"preceptor" (shi ). For this reason, the lion can symbolize a high
government official because in ancient times there existed a "Senior
Grand Tutor" (tai shi ) and a "Junior Preceptor" (shao shi ).
An example of such a lion charm may be seen at Open Work Charms.
In general, a stone or bronze lion outside a residence or official building
acts as a guardian protecting the occupants from harm. Usually, there is
a pair of lions with a male playing with a ball and a female protecting her
cub. A pair of lions is considered to be auspicious and symbolizes
happiness and the wish for a successful and prosperous career.
The lion dance (shiziwu ) is an ancient and popular custom based
on the lion being considered an auspicious animal. It is believed that if a
lion can be enticed to enter one's gate, the household will enjoy wealth
and treasures.
In Buddhism, the lion acts as a guardian of the faith and a symbol of
royal power.
Buddhist deities, such as Guanyin, are sometimes shown riding a lion as
a mount.
The lion can also represent the Buddha who, among his repeated births,
was born 10 times as a lion.

Liu Hai
and ThreeLegged
(Golden)
Toad

Liu Hai () is one of the most popular members of the Chinese

pantheon of charm Taoist (Daoist) figures and represents prosperity and
wealth.
For detailed information concerning Liu Hai and the Three-Legged
(Golden) Toad please see the entry for "toad" below and also the web
page Liu Hai.

Longevity Longevity Stones are strange-shaped rocks that are often shown next to
Stone
the fungus of immortality at the bottom of charms.
They convey the meaning of "long life" because of their age.
Lotus

Because the Buddha is often depicted as seated on a lotus, the lotus is

considered a sacred Buddhist symbol (one of Eight Auspicious Symbols)
representing purity and detachment from worldly cares.
The lotus signifies the seventh month of the lunar calendar.
The Chinese word for lotus is lianhua () or hehua (). Lian is
also the pronunciation of the word for continuous () and he is also the
pronunciation for the word harmony () so the lotus has the hidden
meaning of "continuous harmony".
A lotus stem and lotus pod shown together symbolize marital harmony
and sexual union.
Lotus seeds (lianzi ) have the hidden meaning of "continuous birth
of children" because the lian sounds like "continuous" () and the zi has
the same pronunciation as the word for son or child (zi ).
Examples of lotus charms can be seen at Open Work Charms, Pendant
Charms, Lock Charms, Marriage Charms, and Boy Charms.

Lozenge

A lozenge (fang sheng ) is one of the Eight Treasures and is

considered a lucky object although the actually origin is still unclear.
It has a diamond shape and two lozenges are frequently interlocked to
represent the form of an ancient musical instrument.
It is said that this object was also used as a head ornament in ancient
times and symbolizes victory. Taoist (Daoist) legend has it that the Queen
Mother of the West (xiwangmu ) wore such an object to exorcise
evil spirits. (The legend further describes the Queen Mother of the West
as one who wore a heavy jade necklace, a dress made of mulberry leaves,
and had the teeth of a tiger.)
Two diamond-shaped lozenges interlocked together can represent two
hearts joined together and acting with one mind.
Lozenge charms may be seen at Eight Treasures, Pendant Charms, and
Coin Inscriptions.

Magpie

A magpie (xi que ) is frequently used to symbolize "happiness"

because the first character xi is the same word as happy (xi ). If the
magpie is shown upside down, it means happiness has "arrived" because
the Chinese words for "upside down" () and "arrived" () are both
pronounced dao.
Two magpies facing each other symbolize "double happiness" (shuang xi
). (See charm at Coin Inscriptions.)
A pair of magpies also symbolize marriage. This is based on an ancient
legend concerning two heavenly lovers, the Oxherd and the Weaver Girl
(Weaving Maiden). The two are separated for eternity except for one day
each year (known as qixi , the Double Seven, or Sisters Festival)
when they are allowed to meet each other by crossing a celestial river on
a bridge made of magpies.
One can say "there is a happy bird (magpie) on the tip of the plum
branch" as xi shang mei shao () which sounds exactly like
saying xi shang mei shao () which means "happiness up to
one's eyebrows". This expression means "very happy".
A charm illustrating this "happy expression" may be seen at Pendant
Charms.
A charm at Auspicious Inscriptions depicts a magpie, leopard and
pomegranates as symbols with hidden meanings.

Mirror

Mirrors in China symbolize good fortune and are believed to protect

against evil spirits.
Traditional marriage gifts included a bronze mirror (tongjing ) and
shoes (xie ) because the words combined express "together and in
harmony" (tongxie ).
The mirror can be included as one of the Eight Treasures. (See Liu Hai
charm.)
Bronze mirrors with Daoist "magic writing" characters are discussed at
Chinese Daoist Mirrors.

Money
Tree

The Chinese "money tree" (yao qian shu ) is a legendary tree

from which coins fall down when shaken.
The legends, history, archaeological discoveries and images of money
trees are discussed in detail at Chinese Money Trees and Xian
Numismatic Museum.

Monkey

The monkey (hou ) is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.
The monkey is frequently seen as a visual pun for the Chinese inscription
ma shang feng hou () where a monkey is shown riding on a
horse. The first two characters of the inscription (ma shang) mean "on
the horse" but also mean "at once". The third character (feng ) means
"wind" (breeze) but the Chinese for "to grant a title" is also pronounced
feng (). The fourth character (hou) means "monkey" but another
character with the same pronunciation (hou ) means "a marquis (i.e. a
high official)". Therefore the picture of a monkey on a horse is a visual
pun or rebus for the wish for an immediate promotion in official rank.
A similar rebus consists of a monkey and a deer as can be seen on a
charm at Auspicious Inscriptions.
The Monkey King (Sun Wukong ) is a popular character in the
famous Ming Dynasty novel the "Journey to the West" (Xiyouji ).

Moon

For a comprehensive discussion of the relationship of the moon, dragon,

star, and cloud symbols please visit Charm Symbols: Star, Moon, Cloud
and Dragon
A "moon" or "crescent" is a symbol sometimes found on old Chinese
coins.
According to Chinese mythology, the Three-Legged Toad lives on the
moon.
According to Daoist legend, the "Moon Hare" ("Jade Rabbit") that makes
the elixir of immortality lives on the moon.
Charms depicting the moon may be seen at Open Work Charms, Gourd
Charms, Lock Charms, and Auspicious Inscriptions.
See also entry for pearl.

Mountain Mountains (shan ) are the places closest to the gods and because of
their expanse and heights covey the meaning of limitless.
Mugwort The mugwort (ai ), also known as artemisia leaf, is one of a larger
(Artemisia group of objects which can be a member of the Eight Treasures.
Leaf)
It is a symbol for longevity because of its medicinal properties.
In ancient times, mugwort was attached to doors and gates because its
ragged leaves resemble tiger paws which were believed to provide
protection.
Its aroma is also believed to repel insects.
Narcissus Narcissus (shuixian ) literally means "water immortal".
The flower is therefore a symbol for an immortal.
A typical rebus or visual pun might be an image of a narcissus, a stone
and bamboo. The meaning would be "the immortals" (narcissus)
"wish" ((bamboo (zhu ) = wish (zhu )) "you" a "long
life" (longevity stone).
Nine (9)

The number nine (9) is considered lucky because the Chinese character
for nine (jiu ) has the same pronunciation as the word "forever" (jiu
).

Nine (9) The "nine similitudes" is a reference from the "Book of Odes" (shijing
Similitude ) which is the earliest collection of Chinese poetry and includes
s
poems, songs and hymns from the Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC) and the
Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC).
The "nine similitudes" is now used as a greeting or felicitous wish
translated as follows: "May you be as the mountains and the hills, as the
greater and the lesser heights, as the streams which flow in all directions,
having the constancy of the moon, like the rising sun, with the longevity
of the southern mountain and the green luxuriance of the fir and the
cypress."
Onion

The onion (cong ) is a visual pun for intelligence because it has the
same pronunciation as the word for "intelligent" or "clever" (congming
).

Orange

Oranges symbolize riches and good fortune because of their gold color.
Also, the chinese character for the orange is ju () which is composed
of mu (), meaning "tree", and ji () meaning "lucky or auspicious".
The two components of the character therefore imply that the orange is a
"good luck" fruit.

Orchid

The orchid is one of the Four Gentlemen and stands for humility,
modesty, beauty and refinement.
See also "Cassia and Orchid" Charm.

Osmanthu An osmanthus blossom (gui ) can mean "honor" or "precious" because

s
it has the same pronunciation as the word "valuable" or "precious" (gui
).
Ox

See entry for water buffalo.

Peach

The peach (tao ) signifies the second month of the lunar calendar.
The peach symbolizes marriage, spring, justice and especially Daoist
immortality (longevity).
The peach is one of the Three Abundances (Three Plenties).
See Chinese Peach Charms for information concerning the mythology of
the peach and peach wood, and how it came to symbolize longevity.
Peach wood was also used to make swords, arrows, and amulets in
ancient times because the Chinese word for peach (tao ) has the same
pronunciation as the Chinese word for "flee" or "run away" (tao ).

Peacock

The peacock symbolizes beauty and dignity as well as the desire for
peace and prosperity.
The ancient Chinese believed that one glance from a peacock could make
a woman pregnant.
Xi Wang Mu (), the Queen Mother of the West, sometimes rode a
peacock as a means of transportation instead of a stork.
See Open Work Charms for an beautiful charm depicting a pair of
peacocks.

Peanut

The peanut (huasheng ) is an auspicious symbol because its second

character (sheng ) means to "give birth".
The peanut thus symbolizes the wish for many children.

Pearl
(flaming
pearl)

Dragons are often depicted as chasing a "pearl" like jewel object. The
pearl may be thought of as a metaphor for perfection and enlightenment,
particularly if the dragon represents the emperor.
The pearl also resembles the moon.
As a dragon devours the pearl, less and less of the pearl is seen and the
pearl appears as a waning moon. As a dragon disgorges the pearl, more
and more of the pearl is seen and the pearl therefore appears as a waxing
moon. The dragon and pearl thus symbolize the endless cycle of
transformation.
Frequently, the "pearl" is shown with flames which symbolizes magical
powers and may represent the wish-granting pearl of Buddhism.
The pearl can also refer to riches, pure intentions and genius in obscurity.
The pearl (flaming pearl) is one of the Eight Treasures.
Charms with the pearl symbol may be seen at Eight Treasures, Open
Work Charms, and Auspicious Inscriptions.

Peony

The tree peony or mudan () signifies the third month of the lunar
calendar and symbolizes longevity, loyalty, happiness and eternal beauty.
Because of the way it sometimes grows as doubles, the peony appears to
the Chinese like strings of cash coins and thus has come to symbolize
prosperity and wealth.
For this reason, another name for the peony is fuguihua () which
means "flower of wealth and honor".
A charm using the peony as a symbol for "wealth and honor" may be
seen at Auspicious Inscriptions.
A peony in a vase (ping ) has the hidden meaning of "wealth and
honor" (peony) and "peace" (because the vase is a rebus for
"peace" (pingan ).
For the mythology concerning the peony please see Chinese Open Work
Charms.

Persimmo The persimmon (shi ) is auspicious because of its round shape and
n
brilliant orange color.
The persimmon is used as a visual pun (rebus) because it has the same
pronunciation as the word for "matters, affairs or events" (shi ) and
also the word for an "official" or "gentleman" (shi ).
A persimmon (shi ) shown together with an apple (pingguo )
forms the rebus "may your matters (shi ) be safe (pingan )".

Phoenix The Chinese phoenix is a mythical bird known as the fenghuang ( )

(fenghuan
in Chinese.
g)
Unlike the phoenix of the West, the Chinese phoenix does not have the
connotation of a bird rising from ashes.
The Chinese phoenix symbolizes joy and peace.
It is believed that the phoenix only makes an appearance during periods
of prosperity, peace and good government.
A dragon and phoenix shown together symbolize a happy and
harmonious union.
The phoenix is the yin equivalent of the dragon and is associated with the
south and summer.
The phoenix is also the symbol of the empress.
A very attractive double phoenix charm can be seen at Chinese Open
Work Charms.
Phoenix and dragon charms may be seen at Marriage Charms,
Auspicious Inscriptions, and Unknown Charms.
Pig (Boar) The pig or boar (zhu ) is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese
(Hog)
zodiac and traditionally symbolized the prosperity and good fortune of a
family that could afford such a quality food source.
An old Chinese custom was to have young male children wear hats and
shoes in the shape of a pig. Chinese parents believed this would avoid
misfortune since the evil spirits would be fooled into thinking the child
was actually a pig.
Pine

The pine tree (song ) is a very common symbol for longevity because
it is an evergreen and can endure severe winters.
The pine is a member of the Three Friends in Winter.
The pine also symbolizes solitude.
The pine provides protection when planted near graves. This is because
the mythical creature Wang Xiang (), who devours the brains of the
dead, is afraid of the pine.
A charm displaying the pine tree may be seen at Pendant Charms.

Plum

The plum (mei ) signifies the first month of the lunar calendar.
The plum symbolizes courage and hope because it blossoms first and
bravely stands against the dangers of winter.
The plum tree is a member of the Three Friends in Winter.
The five petals of the plum blossom symbolize the "five blessings" (wufu
), also known as the "five happinesses" or "five good fortunes".
These five blessings refer to longevity (), wealth (), health and
composure (

), virtue (), and the desire to die a natural death

in old age ( ).
Charms displaying the plum symbol may be seen at Pendant Charms,
Boy Charms, and Lock Charms.
Pomegran The pomegranate (shiliu ) signifies the sixth month of the lunar
ate
calendar and, because of its many seeds, represents fertility, offspring
and descendants.
For this reason, the pomegranate is an important symbol in Chinese
marriages.
The first character (shi ) has the same pronunciation as the word for
"generations" (shi ) and thus strengthens the meaning as generations of
descendants.
The pomegranate is a member of the Three Abundances (Three Plenties).
A pomegranate charm can be seen at Auspicious Inscriptions.
Pumpkin

Pumpkin (nangua ) sounds like "boy" (nan ) and symbolizes the

wish for sons.

Quail

The quail (anchun ) signifies courage because of its fighting spirit.

The quail can also represent poverty.
The quail is often used as a visual pun (rebus) because it is pronounced
the same as the word for "peace" (an ).

Rabbit
(Hare)

The rabbit (tuzi ) is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Ram

See entry for sheep below.

Rat

The rat (laoshu ) is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.

The rabbit symbolizes longevity because of the Taoist (Daoist) legend of

the "moon hare" that lives on the moon making the elixir of immortality.

The rat symbolizes fertility, abundance and wealth because of its

reproductive abilities.

Reed Pipe A reed pipe (sheng ) has the hidden meaning of "to give birth" because
it has the same pronunciation as the Chinese word "to give birth" (sheng
).
A reed pipe (sheng ) can also mean "to rise" or be promoted
continually one rank after another because it shares the same
pronunication as the word "to rise" (sheng ).
Rhinocero A single or pair of rhinoceros horns (xijiao ) is usually included as
s Horns
one of the Eight Treasures. Rhino horns symbolize happiness because
the first character (xi ) is pronounced the same as the character for
happiness (xi ).
Charms with rhinoceros horns may be viewed at Eight Treasures and
Auspicious Inscriptions.
A charm with the rhinoceros as its theme is discussed in detail at
Auspicious Inscriptions.

Ribbons Chinese symbols are frequently shown wrapped in ribbons which are
and fillets also referred to as fillets. These ribbons add importance to the power of
the object they surround. The ribbons can be thought of as rays or auras
emanating from the object and symbolizing miraculous powers.
The Chinese for ribbon is dai () which also has another meaning of "to
carry". Another Chinese character with the same pronunciation (dai )
means "generations". When the ribbon is shown connecting two or more
auspicious objects, the hidden meaning of the ribbon therefore is "to
carry along (good luck, good fortune, etc.) for generations".
The Chinese word for a ribbon attached to a official seal or medal is shou
dai (). Shou () has the same pronunciation as the word for
"longevity" (shou ) and since dai () is pronounced the same as
"generations" (dai ), the hidden meaning is "longevity for
generations".
Even though Chinese charms are not able to display colors, the Chinese
always use red colored ribbons in real life. Red (vermilion, cinnabar) is
the color representing joy and it is used widely for marriages and other
festive occasions. The Chinese word for red is hong (). Other Chinese
words with the same pronunciation include "great" (hong ) and
"vast" (hong ), so any object wrapped in a (red) ribbon would also be
enhanced through the phonetic pun of great and vast.
Examples of charm symbols wrapped in ribbons can be seen at
Auspicious Inscriptions, Bagua Charms, and Coin Inscriptions.
Rooster

The rooster or cock is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.
Roosters are believed to be able to scare away demons.
The Chinese for rooster (gongji ) is pronounced the same as "lucky"
or "auspicious" (ji ).
A crowing rooster (gong ming ) sounds like saying "merit and
fame" (gong ming ).
A charm using the rooster to symbolize "lucky" and "merit and fame"
may be seen at Auspicious Inscriptions.

Ruyi or
Sceptre

The ruyi (), considered one of the Eight Treasures, was a sceptre

Saddle

A horse saddle (an ) is a symbol for "peace" (an ) because the

which represented power and authority.

The ruyi was originally a short sword with a sword-guard used for selfdefense or gesturing. There is some speculation that it may have evolved
from a back scratcher.
The head of the ruyi is similar to that of the lingzhi or "fungus of
immortality" and the lotus.
The name "ruyi" is usually translated as "as you wish" or "in accordance
with your desires".
The ruyi now symbolizes good wishes and prosperity.
The ruyi may be seen on charms at Daoist Charms, Bagua Charms,
Auspicious Inscriptions, and Pendant Charms.
The ruyi can be seen on an old Chinese banknote at Chinese Paper
Money.
pronunciation of the two words is the same.

Sheep

The sheep, ram or goat (yang ) is one of the twelve animals of the
Chinese zodiac.
The sheep (yang) has the same pronunciation and therefore symbolizes
the male principle yang in Yin Yang (
) and also the "sun" (yang ).
Sheep kneel when they nurse which to Confucians symbolize "filial
piety" as bowing to the mother.
Please also see entry for goat above.

Shoes

Shoes can symbolize wealth because their shape is similar to silver

ingots (sycee).
Shoes (xie ), because of identical pronunciation, are used in
combination with other objects to express "in harmony with" (xie ) or
"together with" (xie ).
Visit Marriage Charms to see how shoes and a mirror symbolize
"together and in harmony".
The special shoes worn by women with bound feet were called
"lotus" (lian ) shoes. "Lotus" and "continuous" or "successive" (lian
) have the same pronunciation so "lotus" shoes symbolize a fertility
wish for bearing children one after another.

Shrimp

Shrimp () are considered to be auspicious because the pronunciation in

Mandarin (xia) and Cantonese (ha) is very similar to the sound of people
laughing (ha ha ha).

Silver
Ingots
(sycee)

Silver became a measure of value during the Yuan Dynasty (1280 - 1368
AD) and therefore represents wealth.
The silver was moulded into boat-shaped or shoe-shaped ingots called
sycee ( ) which could weigh from 1 to 100 ounces.
Sycee are also known as "saddle sycee", "silver sycee", and "drumshaped sycee".
Silver ingots or sycee also symbolize official office or rank because of a
visual pun or rebus. Sycee are also known as yuanbao (). Yuan ()
can also refer to coming in first in the examination system.
Therefore, showing three (3) silver ingots or sycee has the hidden
meaning of coming in first in all three of the imperial examinations.
Silver ingots are one of the Eight Treasures and symbolize brightness and
purity.
Silver ingots displayed as symbols on charms may be seen at Eight
Treasures, Auspicious Inscriptions, and Pendant Charms.

Six (6)

The number six (6) is considered lucky because the Chinese character for
six (liu ) has a similar pronunciation to the word "prosperity" (lu ).
The number six (6), in its more formal written form (liu ),
coincidentally has exactly the same pronunciation as prosperity (lu )
when the character is used in a different context (lu ) such as a
surname.
Because the pronunciation of six (6) (liu ) is similar to that of the word
"to flow" (liu ), it symbolizes "to go smoothly". The Chinese have the
expression "Everything goes smoothly with six" (liu liu da shun
). For this reason, major events such as weddings, opening a new
business, etc. are held on the 6th day of the month.

Snake

The snake (she ) is a member of the Chinese zodiac and also a member
of the "Five Poisons".
In ancient times, snakes were believed to mate with with tortoises.
Xuanwu, one of the "Four Divine Creatures" also known as the Black
Warrior, is depicted as a tortoise with a snake entwined around it.
See also Zhenwu.
The snake may be seen as charm symbol at the following: Five Poisons,
Coin Inscriptions, and Daoist Charms.

Spider

The spider (zhizhu ) is one of the five poisonous animals known as

the "five poisons".
Contrary to what one might expect, the "five poisons" are a good thing in
that they are believed to counteract pernicious influences by combating
poison with poison.
When not a member of the five poisons, the spider is considered an
auspicious symbol on its own. This is because another word for spider in
Chinese is xizi ( ) where the first character has the same
pronunciation as the word for "happy" (xi ).
A picture of a spider dropping down from its web is thus a visual pun for
"happiness dropping from the sky".
For the same reason, a spider signifies a wish to have a son or child
because zi () means "son" and xizi thus sounds like "happy son".
The spider as a charm symbol may be seen at Chinese Five Poisons
Charms and Amulets.

Star

For a comprehensive discussion of the relationship of the star, moon,

cloud, and dragon symbols please visit Charm Symbols: Star, Moon,
Cloud and Dragon.
"Stars" or dots are sometimes found on ancient Chinese coins and
examples may be seen at Emergence of Chinese Charms.

Star Gods The three Star Gods consist of the "lucky star" (fuxing ), the
"prosperity star" (luxing ) and the "longevity star" (shouxing ).
These gods evolved into Fu (God of Happiness), Lu (God of Prosperity)
and Shou (God of Longevity).
They are popular gods whose duties are, respectively, to increase
happiness, wealth and length of life.

Stork

The stork (guan ) is believed to live 1,000 years and is therefore a

symbol of longevity.
The stork is frequently shown together with pine trees which are another
symbol of longevity.
Storks are the means of transportation for both the Queen Mother of the
West (xiwangmu ) and the "longevity star" (shouxing ).
Because the word for stork (guan ) sounds the same as the words for
an "official" (guan ), a "hat" (guan ), and "first place" (guan ), the
stork also symbolizes promotion to a government office.

Swallow

The swallow (yan ) is associated with springtime and thus represents

the coming of good fortune and prosperous change.
Swallows are seen as bringing "new" to "old" because they, in effect,
make "repairs" by building their mud nests in the cracks of walls and
graves.

Swastika

The swastika is a very old Asian symbol.

The swastika symbol in China represents the Chinese character wan ()
meaning "ten-thousand". The extended meaning of wan () is "all"
such as "the myriad things" as used in the Dao De Jing (), the
classic Taoist (Daoist) text written by Lao-zi ().
The swastika as a charm symbol may be seen at Liu Hai and the ThreeLegged Toad.
Chinese coins with the swastika symbol can be seen at Chinese Coins
and Emergence of Chinese Charms.

Sword

Immortals and gods use swords to cut through ignorance and evil.
The sword is the symbol of Lu Dongbin ( ), one of the Eight
Immortals, and symbolizes victory over evil.
Zhong Kui ( ) was famous for having a magical sword that could
slay evil spirits.
Taoist (Daoist) charms displaying Lu Dongbin and Zhong Kui with their
swords can be seen by either clicking on the above links or at Pendant
Charms.
Please visit Swords and Amulets for a detailed discussion of Chinese
sword symbolism.

Teapot

A teapot or pot (hu ) can convey the meaning of "to protect" (hu )
or "blessing" (hu ) because the characters share the same
pronunciation.

Ten
The "Ten Symbols of Longevity" or "Ten Longevities" (shi shou )
Symbols consist of the pine tree (song ), sun (ri ), crane (he ), water (shui
of
Longevity ), mountains (shan ), clouds (yun ), deer (lu ), tortoise (gui ),
fungus of immortality (lingzhi

), and bamboo (zhu ).

All are traditional Chinese symbols representing a long life.

The Ten Symbols of Longevity also became very popular in ancient
Korea as a theme for charms and other works of art.
Three
The Three Abundances (sanduo ), also known as the Three Plenties,
Abundanc consists of the peach (symbolizing longevity), the pomegranate
es
(symbolizing descendants or progeny) and the citron (symbolizing
happiness and longevity).
Three
Because they all can flourish during the winter, the pine, plum tree and
Friends in bamboo are known as the Three Friends in Winter.
Winter
Three
Many

The "Three Many" refers to the desire for more happiness, longevity and
children/grandchildren.

Three
Officials
(Three
Immortals
)

The Three Officials, also known as the Three Immortals, include the God
of Happiness (Fu), the God of Prosperity (Lu) and the God of
Longvevity (Shou).
A "Three Immortals" charm may be seen at Ancient Chinese Lock
Charms.

Three
Rounds

The Three Rounds refers to any grouping of three round objects.

The Chinese word for "round" (yuan ) is pronounced the same as the
word for "first" (yuan ). In this case, "first" refers to being the top
scholar in the imperial examination system. With the addition of the
number "three" (san ), the meaning is to come in first in all three of the
examinations.
A charm illustrating the Three Rounds may be seen at Auspicious
Inscriptions.

Tiger
The tiger (hu ) is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and
(leopard) is considered the ruler of the beasts on Earth as opposed to the dragon
which rules the beasts in the sky and heavens.
The word for tiger (hu) is also a pun because it has the same
pronunciation as the word "protect" (hu ).
In ancient China, the tiger was the Guardian Spirit of Agriculture which
could devour the Drought Demon.
The God of Wealth (caishen ) is sometimes shown riding a black
tiger.
Tigers appear on amulets because they are powerful animals, symbolize
heroism, and are believed to be able to eat evil spirits, or at least cause
them to flee, and can in general protect people from misfortune.
Tigers also are able to see well in the dark.
For these reasons, images of tigers and tiger's heads (see Peach Charms)
are considered particularly effective in protecting children from
malignant spirits.
Tigers also symbolize longevity because the ancient Chinese believed
tigers turned white after 500 years and could live for 1,000 years. Upon
death, their spirits entered the earth and became amber.
An example of a charm displaying a tiger can be seen at the Five
Poisons.
Toad

The Chinese for "toad" is pronounced chanchu (), sometimes

shortened to just chan ().
In some Chinese dialects the pronunciation of "toad" (chan) is very
similar to that for "coin" (qian ).
Liu Hai and the Three-Legged Toad is a story involving a play on these
similar-sounding words.
See also entry for frog.

Tortoise

The tortoise (gui ) has a long life-span and is, therefore, a natural
symbol for longevity.
The tortoise also represents strength and endurance.
The tortoise is associated with the north and winter. (See entries for Four
Divine Creatures, snake and Zhenwu for information on Xuanwu (
), the tortoise encircled by a snake.)
The physical appearance of the tortoise resembles the Chinese view of
the universe in that it has a round domed outer shell like the vault of
heaven and its lower body is flat like the earth. Its shell was used in very
ancient times in divination.
Charms displaying a tortoise can be seen at Daoist Charms and
Auspicious Inscriptions.

Treasure
Bowl

The Chinese "treasure bowl" (ju bao pen ), also known as the
"treasure basin", is a magical container which can create unlimited
riches. By placing a gold coin inside the "treasure bowl", for example,
the bowl will suddenly be filled with gold coins.
Treasure bowl stories can be traced back to ancient times.
A charm displaying a "treasure bowl" is discussed in detail at Chinese
Treasure Bowl Charm.

Twelve
Imperial
Symbols

According to the ancient Book of Rites (liji ), twelve is the number

of Heaven. Therefore, there are Twelve Imperial Symbols, also known
as Twelve Symbols of Imperial Authority, associated with the emperor
who is the Son of Heaven.
The twelve symbols include the sun (sometimes represented as a threelegged bird in a red disk); the moon (sometimes represented as a rabbit
or hare in a green-white disk); stars (sometimes represented by the "big
dipper" constellation or simply three small circles); mountains
(symbolizing stability and "earth" of the five elements); a pair of fiveclawed dragons (representing beasts); a pheasant (representing birds); the
fu () symbol which looks like back-to-back bows and symbolizes
"good and evil" (and is also the alleged source of the yin yang symbol);
the axe head (fu ) (symbolizing the power to make decisions and
punish); a pair of goblets (representing "metal" of the five elements);
grain or millet (representing "wood" of the five elements); aquatic grass
(representing "water" of the five elements); and red flames (representing
"fire" of the five elements).
The famous Chinese writer Lu Xun () incorporated the "Twelve
Symbols" into a design intended to be the national emblem and which
was also used on a Chinese coin.

Unicorn
(Chinese
Unicorn)

The qilin ( ) or Chinese unicorn represents good luck , prosperity,

Vase or
Bottle

A picture of a bottle or vase can represent the meaning of "peace" or

"safety" because both the character for vase (ping ) and that for peace

goodwill and benevolence.

It is described as having a deer's body, an ox's tail, fish scales, five-toed
hoofed feet and a horn on its head.
The qilin is associated with sages and excellent rulers, and is believed to
appear when a new sage is born as was the case with Confucius. (See
Confucian Charms).
It is associated with the west and autumn.
A charm with a qilin can be see at Open Work Charms.
A charm showing a qilin delivering a boy child can be viewed at Pendant
Charms.

(pingan ) are pronounced ping.

A vase (ping ) with flowers from all four seasons (siji ) conveys
the hidden meaning of peace for all the year (sijipingan ).

Water
Buffalo
(Ox)

The ox is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.

A charm with the inscription in Daoist magic writing, displaying an ox
and a star god (star official), may be seen at Daoist (Taoist) Charms.
A charm showing a boy riding an ox which represents the early humble
beginnings of Emperor Tai Zu of the Ming Dynasty may be seen at
Chinese Charms with Coin Inscriptions.
Because of their importance to agriculture, the water buffalo or ox (niu
) symbolizes springtime, harvest and fertility.
To city dwellers and government officials, the water buffalo also
represents a simple and idyllic life.
(For an interesting story concerning the "Wu buffalo gasping at the
moon" please see Auspicious Inscriptions.)

Willow

The willow (liu ) is associated with the life of scholars and poets who
drew inspiration while strolling among them.
Its branches were considered magical and were used in exorcisms and in
"sweeping tombs" during the Qingming Festival () also known as
"Festival of the Tombs". On this day, young men also wore green willow
branches in their hair in the belief that it would prevent them from being
changed into a brown dog in a future existence.
Because of similarity in pronunciation to the Chinese word "to part" (li
), willow branches also represent parting and sorrow since they were
traditionally given to friends departing for distant lands.

Writing
To express the hope that "things will certainly go according to your
Brush and wishes", a charm can have the Chinese characters () for "as you
Silver
wish" but may also depict a writing brush and a silver ingot or sycee (
Ingot
) (a saddle-shaped silver ingot used for money in ancient China).
This is because the characters for "brush" (bi ) and "ingot" (ding )
said together are "bi ding" which is the same pronunciation as the
characters (bi ding) for "certainly".

Yinyang
(Taiji)

Yin Yang (

) is the Chinese term for the basic polarities of the

universe, e.g. male/female, light/dark, strong/weak, etc.

The "supreme ultimate" symbol, known as taiji ( ), is a circle with an
S-shaped curve separating it into two equal halves. One half represents
yin and the other half represents yang. In the center of each half is a
small circle which represents the other half.
A representative charm with the taiji symbol can be seen at the Book of
Changes and Bagua.

Zhenwu

The Daoist god Zhenwu (), also known as the Perfected Warrior,
evolved over the centuries from Xuanwu ( ) which was a tortoise
encircled by a snake that represented the north. (See also entry for Four
Divine Creatures.)
Zhenwu is associated with healing and protection.
Zhenwu can be seen portrayed on a charm at Daoist (Taoist) Charms.