Part 1: Animals of Chinese Lore<\/h2>\n\nAnimals play an enormous role in Chinese Folk Art. Most pieces have one roaming around somewhere and usually carry some symbolic meaning, so we\u2019ll take a look at ten of the most common that I find around Chengdu.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Crane (“he” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nCranes<\/a> are commonly used as symbols of longevity, because according to legends, they lived for hundreds of years. I one perched on a beautiful vase at the Songxian Qiao antique market<\/a>. It appears to be holding peaches (tao2zi ??) which are symbols of immortality. Because of this pairing of images, the salesman said that this gift should be given to an elderly person. He even went so far as to say that it is inappropriate for a young guy like me to buy it (or anything with cranes) for myself. Cranes are most often seen building Chengdu\u2019s skyline in pairs with other symbols of longevity, such as a pine or cypress tree.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Symbolducks.jpg\" "\\"Chinese")
Two Mandarin ducks on a vase<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe\u00a0<\/strong>Mandarin Duck (“yuan yang” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nI saw a lot of Mandarin Ducks floating around Songxian Qiao. As tradition<\/a> states, this couple is a sign of fidelity or marital bliss. The reason being that apparently one can not survive without the other. On one vase I picked up, the ducks are pictured with a lotus and bamboo. According to the salesman, the bamboo (zhu2 ?) means \u2018wish\u2019, the lotus (he2 ?) indicates \u2018peace\u2019 and the lotus seedpod, peeking out of the middle part of the flower, marks represents a hope for children. Needless to say, this vase was a favorite of my translator (wife).<\/p>\nThe Bat (“fu” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThere was a roof tile that looked like a great halloween decoration to me, but to the locals, it has another connotation: happiness and good fortune. Sorry, I know, its the \u2018good luck\u2019 I was talking about, but we\u2019ll give this one a pass. The word for bat (fu2 ?) is a homophone of the word for happiness (fu2 ?). So bats are used often to portray this wish, usually among the stylized clouds (yun2 ?) which is a homophone for good fortune (yun4 ?). This one, which I found at Jinli Street, seems to have a coin with it, which makes its own motif, according to one source<\/a>,\u00a0this coin is known as an \u201ceye coin\u201d (yan3qian2 ??), which forms an interesting wordplay: \u201chappiness (fu2 ?) lies (zai4 ?) before (qian2 ? ) [your] eyes (yan3 ?). It\u2019s so interesting it almost makes me like bats.<\/p>\nThe Dragon (“long” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe cool kid in town is of course the dragon. They come in all shapes and sizes, but typically carry the same message of power and protection. The dragon has 9 \u201csons\u201d who occupy different places, such as door knockers, bells, rooftops, and bridges. This dragon appears to be flying among the clouds (yun2 ?), which symbolize good fortune. You have probably seen portrayals of a dragon chasing a ball of fire. This suggests the magical powers of the dragon, a kind of \u201cpearl of wisdom\u201d. Last word on the dragon: be sure to ask which one it is you are buying\/tattooing, as they might have a special association other than just power and protection.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Symbolbat.jpg\" "\\"Chinese")
A roof tile with a bat carved on it means “good fortune”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Qilin (“qi lin” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nI found a lot of this mythological creature – which I thought was a liger or something – called a qilin<\/a>\u00a0(pronounced “chee-lin”). It has a dragon\u2019s head, a scaled body, deer hooves, and a bear\u2019s tail. Typically they are a symbol of honor and intelligence. This qilin carries a baby boy on its back. According to the salesman, this is given as a gift to parents who want to have a baby boy (qi2lin2song4zi ????). It seems like an odd couple to me.<\/p>\nThe Rabbit (“tu zi” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, rabbits are a popular animal in Chinese culture. This blown candy from Jinli street no doubt alludes to the zodiac, as kids spin the wheel to see which animal candy they will receive. But more often in Chinese art, they will be a sign of immortality. According to legend<\/a>, a \u201cmoon hare\u201d (yue4tu4 ???accompanies the Goddess of the moon, Chang\u2019e. Images of a rabbit with a mortar and pestle are said to be preparing an \u201celixir of immortality.\u201d In general, rabbits tend to be symbols of the moon, and a rooster is a symbol of the sun.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Symboltoad.jpg\" "\\"Chinese")
Rub a toad and he croaks out good luck for you and yours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Toad (“chan chu” \u00a0??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nNo doubt, you have seen these around Chengdu. I found this one at the antique market. They are called \u201cmoney toads\u201d (qian2chan2 ??). According to my research<\/a>\u00a0this animal is surrounded by myths and legend, but is mainly seen as a good luck charm today. Businesses sometimes put this, or a gold cat, in their store to bring good luck and presumably, wealth.<\/p>\nThe Tiger (“lao hu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger. It\u2019s a perfect representation of your\u2019s truly because it means strength, power, and courage (ok, maybe not so perfect for me). Nevertheless, it is a popular figure in Chinese art<\/a> and chances are you\u2019ve run into a couple of them. This unique one is actually a hat, fashioned in the style of the Qing Dynasty, according to the salesman. Most images of tigers will have the Chinese character for king?wang ?) on its forehead, further signifying its power.<\/p>\nThe Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Symbolrabbit.jpg\" "\\"Chinese")
A rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Animals play an enormous role in Chinese Folk Art. Most pieces have one roaming around somewhere and usually carry some symbolic meaning, so we\u2019ll take a look at ten of the most common that I find around Chengdu.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Crane (“he” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nCranes<\/a> are commonly used as symbols of longevity, because according to legends, they lived for hundreds of years. I one perched on a beautiful vase at the Songxian Qiao antique market<\/a>. It appears to be holding peaches (tao2zi ??) which are symbols of immortality. Because of this pairing of images, the salesman said that this gift should be given to an elderly person. He even went so far as to say that it is inappropriate for a young guy like me to buy it (or anything with cranes) for myself. Cranes are most often seen building Chengdu\u2019s skyline in pairs with other symbols of longevity, such as a pine or cypress tree.<\/p>\nTwo Mandarin ducks on a vase<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe\u00a0<\/strong>Mandarin Duck (“yuan yang” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nI saw a lot of Mandarin Ducks floating around Songxian Qiao. As tradition<\/a> states, this couple is a sign of fidelity or marital bliss. The reason being that apparently one can not survive without the other. On one vase I picked up, the ducks are pictured with a lotus and bamboo. According to the salesman, the bamboo (zhu2 ?) means \u2018wish\u2019, the lotus (he2 ?) indicates \u2018peace\u2019 and the lotus seedpod, peeking out of the middle part of the flower, marks represents a hope for children. Needless to say, this vase was a favorite of my translator (wife).<\/p>\nThe Bat (“fu” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThere was a roof tile that looked like a great halloween decoration to me, but to the locals, it has another connotation: happiness and good fortune. Sorry, I know, its the \u2018good luck\u2019 I was talking about, but we\u2019ll give this one a pass. The word for bat (fu2 ?) is a homophone of the word for happiness (fu2 ?). So bats are used often to portray this wish, usually among the stylized clouds (yun2 ?) which is a homophone for good fortune (yun4 ?). This one, which I found at Jinli Street, seems to have a coin with it, which makes its own motif, according to one source<\/a>,\u00a0this coin is known as an \u201ceye coin\u201d (yan3qian2 ??), which forms an interesting wordplay: \u201chappiness (fu2 ?) lies (zai4 ?) before (qian2 ? ) [your] eyes (yan3 ?). It\u2019s so interesting it almost makes me like bats.<\/p>\nThe Dragon (“long” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe cool kid in town is of course the dragon. They come in all shapes and sizes, but typically carry the same message of power and protection. The dragon has 9 \u201csons\u201d who occupy different places, such as door knockers, bells, rooftops, and bridges. This dragon appears to be flying among the clouds (yun2 ?), which symbolize good fortune. You have probably seen portrayals of a dragon chasing a ball of fire. This suggests the magical powers of the dragon, a kind of \u201cpearl of wisdom\u201d. Last word on the dragon: be sure to ask which one it is you are buying\/tattooing, as they might have a special association other than just power and protection.<\/p>\nA roof tile with a bat carved on it means “good fortune”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Qilin (“qi lin” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nI found a lot of this mythological creature – which I thought was a liger or something – called a qilin<\/a>\u00a0(pronounced “chee-lin”). It has a dragon\u2019s head, a scaled body, deer hooves, and a bear\u2019s tail. Typically they are a symbol of honor and intelligence. This qilin carries a baby boy on its back. According to the salesman, this is given as a gift to parents who want to have a baby boy (qi2lin2song4zi ????). It seems like an odd couple to me.<\/p>\nThe Rabbit (“tu zi” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, rabbits are a popular animal in Chinese culture. This blown candy from Jinli street no doubt alludes to the zodiac, as kids spin the wheel to see which animal candy they will receive. But more often in Chinese art, they will be a sign of immortality. According to legend<\/a>, a \u201cmoon hare\u201d (yue4tu4 ???accompanies the Goddess of the moon, Chang\u2019e. Images of a rabbit with a mortar and pestle are said to be preparing an \u201celixir of immortality.\u201d In general, rabbits tend to be symbols of the moon, and a rooster is a symbol of the sun.<\/p>\nRub a toad and he croaks out good luck for you and yours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Toad (“chan chu” \u00a0??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nNo doubt, you have seen these around Chengdu. I found this one at the antique market. They are called \u201cmoney toads\u201d (qian2chan2 ??). According to my research<\/a>\u00a0this animal is surrounded by myths and legend, but is mainly seen as a good luck charm today. Businesses sometimes put this, or a gold cat, in their store to bring good luck and presumably, wealth.<\/p>\nThe Tiger (“lao hu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger. It\u2019s a perfect representation of your\u2019s truly because it means strength, power, and courage (ok, maybe not so perfect for me). Nevertheless, it is a popular figure in Chinese art<\/a> and chances are you\u2019ve run into a couple of them. This unique one is actually a hat, fashioned in the style of the Qing Dynasty, according to the salesman. Most images of tigers will have the Chinese character for king?wang ?) on its forehead, further signifying its power.<\/p>\nThe Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\nA rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The\u00a0<\/strong>Mandarin Duck (“yuan yang” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nI saw a lot of Mandarin Ducks floating around Songxian Qiao. As tradition<\/a> states, this couple is a sign of fidelity or marital bliss. The reason being that apparently one can not survive without the other. On one vase I picked up, the ducks are pictured with a lotus and bamboo. According to the salesman, the bamboo (zhu2 ?) means \u2018wish\u2019, the lotus (he2 ?) indicates \u2018peace\u2019 and the lotus seedpod, peeking out of the middle part of the flower, marks represents a hope for children. Needless to say, this vase was a favorite of my translator (wife).<\/p>\nThe Bat (“fu” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThere was a roof tile that looked like a great halloween decoration to me, but to the locals, it has another connotation: happiness and good fortune. Sorry, I know, its the \u2018good luck\u2019 I was talking about, but we\u2019ll give this one a pass. The word for bat (fu2 ?) is a homophone of the word for happiness (fu2 ?). So bats are used often to portray this wish, usually among the stylized clouds (yun2 ?) which is a homophone for good fortune (yun4 ?). This one, which I found at Jinli Street, seems to have a coin with it, which makes its own motif, according to one source<\/a>,\u00a0this coin is known as an \u201ceye coin\u201d (yan3qian2 ??), which forms an interesting wordplay: \u201chappiness (fu2 ?) lies (zai4 ?) before (qian2 ? ) [your] eyes (yan3 ?). It\u2019s so interesting it almost makes me like bats.<\/p>\nThe Dragon (“long” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe cool kid in town is of course the dragon. They come in all shapes and sizes, but typically carry the same message of power and protection. The dragon has 9 \u201csons\u201d who occupy different places, such as door knockers, bells, rooftops, and bridges. This dragon appears to be flying among the clouds (yun2 ?), which symbolize good fortune. You have probably seen portrayals of a dragon chasing a ball of fire. This suggests the magical powers of the dragon, a kind of \u201cpearl of wisdom\u201d. Last word on the dragon: be sure to ask which one it is you are buying\/tattooing, as they might have a special association other than just power and protection.<\/p>\nA roof tile with a bat carved on it means “good fortune”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Qilin (“qi lin” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nI found a lot of this mythological creature – which I thought was a liger or something – called a qilin<\/a>\u00a0(pronounced “chee-lin”). It has a dragon\u2019s head, a scaled body, deer hooves, and a bear\u2019s tail. Typically they are a symbol of honor and intelligence. This qilin carries a baby boy on its back. According to the salesman, this is given as a gift to parents who want to have a baby boy (qi2lin2song4zi ????). It seems like an odd couple to me.<\/p>\nThe Rabbit (“tu zi” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, rabbits are a popular animal in Chinese culture. This blown candy from Jinli street no doubt alludes to the zodiac, as kids spin the wheel to see which animal candy they will receive. But more often in Chinese art, they will be a sign of immortality. According to legend<\/a>, a \u201cmoon hare\u201d (yue4tu4 ???accompanies the Goddess of the moon, Chang\u2019e. Images of a rabbit with a mortar and pestle are said to be preparing an \u201celixir of immortality.\u201d In general, rabbits tend to be symbols of the moon, and a rooster is a symbol of the sun.<\/p>\nRub a toad and he croaks out good luck for you and yours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Toad (“chan chu” \u00a0??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nNo doubt, you have seen these around Chengdu. I found this one at the antique market. They are called \u201cmoney toads\u201d (qian2chan2 ??). According to my research<\/a>\u00a0this animal is surrounded by myths and legend, but is mainly seen as a good luck charm today. Businesses sometimes put this, or a gold cat, in their store to bring good luck and presumably, wealth.<\/p>\nThe Tiger (“lao hu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger. It\u2019s a perfect representation of your\u2019s truly because it means strength, power, and courage (ok, maybe not so perfect for me). Nevertheless, it is a popular figure in Chinese art<\/a> and chances are you\u2019ve run into a couple of them. This unique one is actually a hat, fashioned in the style of the Qing Dynasty, according to the salesman. Most images of tigers will have the Chinese character for king?wang ?) on its forehead, further signifying its power.<\/p>\nThe Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\nA rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Bat (“fu” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThere was a roof tile that looked like a great halloween decoration to me, but to the locals, it has another connotation: happiness and good fortune. Sorry, I know, its the \u2018good luck\u2019 I was talking about, but we\u2019ll give this one a pass. The word for bat (fu2 ?) is a homophone of the word for happiness (fu2 ?). So bats are used often to portray this wish, usually among the stylized clouds (yun2 ?) which is a homophone for good fortune (yun4 ?). This one, which I found at Jinli Street, seems to have a coin with it, which makes its own motif, according to one source<\/a>,\u00a0this coin is known as an \u201ceye coin\u201d (yan3qian2 ??), which forms an interesting wordplay: \u201chappiness (fu2 ?) lies (zai4 ?) before (qian2 ? ) [your] eyes (yan3 ?). It\u2019s so interesting it almost makes me like bats.<\/p>\nThe Dragon (“long” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe cool kid in town is of course the dragon. They come in all shapes and sizes, but typically carry the same message of power and protection. The dragon has 9 \u201csons\u201d who occupy different places, such as door knockers, bells, rooftops, and bridges. This dragon appears to be flying among the clouds (yun2 ?), which symbolize good fortune. You have probably seen portrayals of a dragon chasing a ball of fire. This suggests the magical powers of the dragon, a kind of \u201cpearl of wisdom\u201d. Last word on the dragon: be sure to ask which one it is you are buying\/tattooing, as they might have a special association other than just power and protection.<\/p>\nA roof tile with a bat carved on it means “good fortune”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Qilin (“qi lin” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nI found a lot of this mythological creature – which I thought was a liger or something – called a qilin<\/a>\u00a0(pronounced “chee-lin”). It has a dragon\u2019s head, a scaled body, deer hooves, and a bear\u2019s tail. Typically they are a symbol of honor and intelligence. This qilin carries a baby boy on its back. According to the salesman, this is given as a gift to parents who want to have a baby boy (qi2lin2song4zi ????). It seems like an odd couple to me.<\/p>\nThe Rabbit (“tu zi” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, rabbits are a popular animal in Chinese culture. This blown candy from Jinli street no doubt alludes to the zodiac, as kids spin the wheel to see which animal candy they will receive. But more often in Chinese art, they will be a sign of immortality. According to legend<\/a>, a \u201cmoon hare\u201d (yue4tu4 ???accompanies the Goddess of the moon, Chang\u2019e. Images of a rabbit with a mortar and pestle are said to be preparing an \u201celixir of immortality.\u201d In general, rabbits tend to be symbols of the moon, and a rooster is a symbol of the sun.<\/p>\nRub a toad and he croaks out good luck for you and yours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Toad (“chan chu” \u00a0??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nNo doubt, you have seen these around Chengdu. I found this one at the antique market. They are called \u201cmoney toads\u201d (qian2chan2 ??). According to my research<\/a>\u00a0this animal is surrounded by myths and legend, but is mainly seen as a good luck charm today. Businesses sometimes put this, or a gold cat, in their store to bring good luck and presumably, wealth.<\/p>\nThe Tiger (“lao hu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger. It\u2019s a perfect representation of your\u2019s truly because it means strength, power, and courage (ok, maybe not so perfect for me). Nevertheless, it is a popular figure in Chinese art<\/a> and chances are you\u2019ve run into a couple of them. This unique one is actually a hat, fashioned in the style of the Qing Dynasty, according to the salesman. Most images of tigers will have the Chinese character for king?wang ?) on its forehead, further signifying its power.<\/p>\nThe Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\nA rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Dragon (“long” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe cool kid in town is of course the dragon. They come in all shapes and sizes, but typically carry the same message of power and protection. The dragon has 9 \u201csons\u201d who occupy different places, such as door knockers, bells, rooftops, and bridges. This dragon appears to be flying among the clouds (yun2 ?), which symbolize good fortune. You have probably seen portrayals of a dragon chasing a ball of fire. This suggests the magical powers of the dragon, a kind of \u201cpearl of wisdom\u201d. Last word on the dragon: be sure to ask which one it is you are buying\/tattooing, as they might have a special association other than just power and protection.<\/p>\nA roof tile with a bat carved on it means “good fortune”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Qilin (“qi lin” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nI found a lot of this mythological creature – which I thought was a liger or something – called a qilin<\/a>\u00a0(pronounced “chee-lin”). It has a dragon\u2019s head, a scaled body, deer hooves, and a bear\u2019s tail. Typically they are a symbol of honor and intelligence. This qilin carries a baby boy on its back. According to the salesman, this is given as a gift to parents who want to have a baby boy (qi2lin2song4zi ????). It seems like an odd couple to me.<\/p>\nThe Rabbit (“tu zi” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, rabbits are a popular animal in Chinese culture. This blown candy from Jinli street no doubt alludes to the zodiac, as kids spin the wheel to see which animal candy they will receive. But more often in Chinese art, they will be a sign of immortality. According to legend<\/a>, a \u201cmoon hare\u201d (yue4tu4 ???accompanies the Goddess of the moon, Chang\u2019e. Images of a rabbit with a mortar and pestle are said to be preparing an \u201celixir of immortality.\u201d In general, rabbits tend to be symbols of the moon, and a rooster is a symbol of the sun.<\/p>\nRub a toad and he croaks out good luck for you and yours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Toad (“chan chu” \u00a0??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nNo doubt, you have seen these around Chengdu. I found this one at the antique market. They are called \u201cmoney toads\u201d (qian2chan2 ??). According to my research<\/a>\u00a0this animal is surrounded by myths and legend, but is mainly seen as a good luck charm today. Businesses sometimes put this, or a gold cat, in their store to bring good luck and presumably, wealth.<\/p>\nThe Tiger (“lao hu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger. It\u2019s a perfect representation of your\u2019s truly because it means strength, power, and courage (ok, maybe not so perfect for me). Nevertheless, it is a popular figure in Chinese art<\/a> and chances are you\u2019ve run into a couple of them. This unique one is actually a hat, fashioned in the style of the Qing Dynasty, according to the salesman. Most images of tigers will have the Chinese character for king?wang ?) on its forehead, further signifying its power.<\/p>\nThe Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\nA rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Qilin (“qi lin” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nI found a lot of this mythological creature – which I thought was a liger or something – called a qilin<\/a>\u00a0(pronounced “chee-lin”). It has a dragon\u2019s head, a scaled body, deer hooves, and a bear\u2019s tail. Typically they are a symbol of honor and intelligence. This qilin carries a baby boy on its back. According to the salesman, this is given as a gift to parents who want to have a baby boy (qi2lin2song4zi ????). It seems like an odd couple to me.<\/p>\nThe Rabbit (“tu zi” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, rabbits are a popular animal in Chinese culture. This blown candy from Jinli street no doubt alludes to the zodiac, as kids spin the wheel to see which animal candy they will receive. But more often in Chinese art, they will be a sign of immortality. According to legend<\/a>, a \u201cmoon hare\u201d (yue4tu4 ???accompanies the Goddess of the moon, Chang\u2019e. Images of a rabbit with a mortar and pestle are said to be preparing an \u201celixir of immortality.\u201d In general, rabbits tend to be symbols of the moon, and a rooster is a symbol of the sun.<\/p>\nRub a toad and he croaks out good luck for you and yours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Toad (“chan chu” \u00a0??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nNo doubt, you have seen these around Chengdu. I found this one at the antique market. They are called \u201cmoney toads\u201d (qian2chan2 ??). According to my research<\/a>\u00a0this animal is surrounded by myths and legend, but is mainly seen as a good luck charm today. Businesses sometimes put this, or a gold cat, in their store to bring good luck and presumably, wealth.<\/p>\nThe Tiger (“lao hu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger. It\u2019s a perfect representation of your\u2019s truly because it means strength, power, and courage (ok, maybe not so perfect for me). Nevertheless, it is a popular figure in Chinese art<\/a> and chances are you\u2019ve run into a couple of them. This unique one is actually a hat, fashioned in the style of the Qing Dynasty, according to the salesman. Most images of tigers will have the Chinese character for king?wang ?) on its forehead, further signifying its power.<\/p>\nThe Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\nA rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Rabbit (“tu zi” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, rabbits are a popular animal in Chinese culture. This blown candy from Jinli street no doubt alludes to the zodiac, as kids spin the wheel to see which animal candy they will receive. But more often in Chinese art, they will be a sign of immortality. According to legend<\/a>, a \u201cmoon hare\u201d (yue4tu4 ???accompanies the Goddess of the moon, Chang\u2019e. Images of a rabbit with a mortar and pestle are said to be preparing an \u201celixir of immortality.\u201d In general, rabbits tend to be symbols of the moon, and a rooster is a symbol of the sun.<\/p>\nRub a toad and he croaks out good luck for you and yours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Toad (“chan chu” \u00a0??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nNo doubt, you have seen these around Chengdu. I found this one at the antique market. They are called \u201cmoney toads\u201d (qian2chan2 ??). According to my research<\/a>\u00a0this animal is surrounded by myths and legend, but is mainly seen as a good luck charm today. Businesses sometimes put this, or a gold cat, in their store to bring good luck and presumably, wealth.<\/p>\nThe Tiger (“lao hu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger. It\u2019s a perfect representation of your\u2019s truly because it means strength, power, and courage (ok, maybe not so perfect for me). Nevertheless, it is a popular figure in Chinese art<\/a> and chances are you\u2019ve run into a couple of them. This unique one is actually a hat, fashioned in the style of the Qing Dynasty, according to the salesman. Most images of tigers will have the Chinese character for king?wang ?) on its forehead, further signifying its power.<\/p>\nThe Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\nA rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Toad (“chan chu” \u00a0??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nNo doubt, you have seen these around Chengdu. I found this one at the antique market. They are called \u201cmoney toads\u201d (qian2chan2 ??). According to my research<\/a>\u00a0this animal is surrounded by myths and legend, but is mainly seen as a good luck charm today. Businesses sometimes put this, or a gold cat, in their store to bring good luck and presumably, wealth.<\/p>\nThe Tiger (“lao hu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger. It\u2019s a perfect representation of your\u2019s truly because it means strength, power, and courage (ok, maybe not so perfect for me). Nevertheless, it is a popular figure in Chinese art<\/a> and chances are you\u2019ve run into a couple of them. This unique one is actually a hat, fashioned in the style of the Qing Dynasty, according to the salesman. Most images of tigers will have the Chinese character for king?wang ?) on its forehead, further signifying its power.<\/p>\nThe Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\nA rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Tiger (“lao hu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccording to the Chinese zodiac, I am a tiger. It\u2019s a perfect representation of your\u2019s truly because it means strength, power, and courage (ok, maybe not so perfect for me). Nevertheless, it is a popular figure in Chinese art<\/a> and chances are you\u2019ve run into a couple of them. This unique one is actually a hat, fashioned in the style of the Qing Dynasty, according to the salesman. Most images of tigers will have the Chinese character for king?wang ?) on its forehead, further signifying its power.<\/p>\nThe Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\nA rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Goldfish (“jin yu” ??)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlmost every tourist attraction around Chengdu has a place for you to feed goldfish. Goldfish<\/a>\u00a0in Chinese (jin1yu2 ??) lends itself to some very positive associations. The word jin (?) means \u2018gold\u2019. The word for \u2018fish\u2019 (?) has the same sound as the word for jade (yu4 ?) and \u2018surplus\u2019 (yu2 ?). So if you see goldfish in paintings or teapots, typically surrounded by other symbols of luck, they represent some kind of a hope or wish for wealth of money or happiness.<\/p>\nA rabbit usually accompanies the moon goddess Chang’E<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Lion (“shi” ?)<\/strong><\/h2>\n