Index of Chinese symbolic elements
In a Chinese painting have you ever wondered what a bee is doing together with a boy on the back of an elephant? These symbolic elements have for centuries been well understood by Chinese people. It is still important to understand them as they add a new dimension to appreciation of Chinese art.
Here are all the subjects covered in this large index of Chinese symbols and art motifs. As there are so many we have grouped them intobirds,animals,colors,flowers & fruit,nature andassorted categories. This section does not include the pantheon of gods and heroes from China's history, we have a separate guide to all the importantChinese deities.
AmberAmuletAncestral tabletAnimalAntAoAppleApricotAubergineAxAzaleaBadgerBallBambooBasketBatBeanBearBeardBeeBellBirdBlackBlueBoatBookBottle gourdBowBoxBridgeBroomBrushButterflyCabbageCanopyCarpCatCentipedeCherryChildrenChrysanthemumCicadaCinnabarCinnamonCloudCockerelCoinColorCrabCraneCreeperCricketCrowCypressDeerDewDogDonkeyDoveDragonDragonflyDuckEagleEarthEight treasuresElephantEndless knotFanFilial pietyFinger lemonFireFishFlowersFluteFoxGall bladderGeckoGhostGinsengGlow wormGongGood luck godsGooseGreenHairHalberdHareHatHawkHeartHeavenHellHeronHorseIceImmortalsImperial InsigniaIrisIsles of the BlessedJadeJujubeKingfisherLacquerLaoziLilyLionLongevityLotusLuohanLuteLycheeMagnoliaMagpieMapleMeanderMelonMirrorMonkeyMoonMountainMouth organMulberryNarcissusNumbersOnionOpiumOrangeOrchidOrioleOwlOxPagodaPan GuPantherParrotPavilionPeachPeacockPearPearlPeng NiaoPeonyPersimmonPheasantPhoenixPigPinePipaPlumPomegranatePurpleQuailRainRatRavenRedRhinocerosRoseRu YiSaddleScorpionScrollSeasonsSheepShoeSnakeSpiderStoneSunSwallowSwastikaSwordTai JiTaotieThunderTigerToadTortoiseTripodUmbrellaUnicornVaseWalnutWaveWhiteWillowWineWolfWood oil treeYellowIf you are looking for a motif to convey a particular meaning it can be tedious to look through all the symbols. So here is a list of the symbols arranged by meaning, note that some of them can take multiple meanings so appear more than once.
Incidentally, thebee and the boy on the back of anelephant? It's a wish for happiness, good luck and a job promotion.
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Often combined with other things, this set adds the meaning that ‘good fortune’, ‘exam success’, ‘children’ and so on should happen soon.
HorsePeng NiaoJujubeBeauty terms
Symbols portraying beauty usually in the form of beautiful flowers.
AppleApricotAzaleaCherryGlow wormJadeKingfisherLilyMagnoliaOrchidOriolePeachPearPearlPeonyPheasantPhoenixIrisChildren
Symbols that express a wish for children - particularly sons.
BallLilyPomegranateToadUnicornLycheeMelonIrisExamination success
Success inexaminations remains a passport to power and wealth and it was customary to wish candidates good luck with gifts symbolizing a wish for success.
ApricotCarpCrabHalberdOnionJob Promotion
Wishing someone is promoted at work.
CypressMaplePomegranateHatMouth organAppointment to an official post
After passing the examinations the wish would be be appointed to a lucrativeposition in government of great prestige.
AubergineBeeBellCinnamonCockerelCraneHalberdLuteMaplePeacockWaveBrushPipa
Evil
Things that are considered harbingers of bad luck.
OwlCrowWolfFamily Values
These symbols are associated with filial piety - devotion to parents.
CrowRavenSheepIceGood Luck
There are a wide range of symbols in Chinese art that all have a general wish for good fortune.
BatBellCabbageCarpCloudCockerelCoinDeerFishGood luck godsLionLuteMagpieMirrorNarcissusOrangePheasantPlumRedRu YiSpiderSwastikaTai JiTripodUnicornAmuletHatBrushEight treasuresPipaHappen again
These can be added to a design to give the meaning that ‘happiness’, ‘good fortune’ and so on should be repeated year after year.
LotusMeanderSwastikaBoatProverb
Happiness
All these symbols express a wish for happiness and are often found on gifts to friends and family.
AxBadgerBatChrysanthemumDuckFanFinger lemonLionMagpieMonkeyOriolePhoenixPlumSpiderUnicornHappy Marriage
These symbols are associated with wishing for a long and happymarriage, and children to come along soon.
AxCraneDuckFishGooseLotusPeachPhoenixPomegranateShoeSunWood oil tree
Long Life
Almost as many symbols are used to wish for a long life as there are to wish for good luck.
BambooButterflyCatCicadaCraneCreeperCypressDeerDoveDragonEndless knotFinger lemonHareJadeLaoziLongevityMountainNarcissusPeachPearPinePlumStoneTortoiseCricketLoyalty
These things symbolize remaining loyal in some way or another.
DogDoveDuckGlow wormGoosePineQuailWood oil treeNixon visit
Richard Nixon, US President visitedMao Zedong in February 1972. The visit marked the end of a long period of isolation for China and hostility with the U.S.. John Adams wrote an opera about the visit called ‘Nixon in China➚’.Read more…
Modesty
The virtue of modesty is attributed to some plants and also theqilin.
BambooLotusOrchidPearlPeonyUnicornWillowPath through Life
Symbols that reflect upon destiny and overall aims in life.
HeronPersimmonBridgePeace
Wishes for peace and contentment.
AppleBoxChrysanthemumCrabCraneLotusMirrorPhoenixQuailSaddleShoeVaseProtection
These symbols in some way offer protection from evil and strife.
Bottle gourdJadeSwordTai JiTaotieTigerWillowFireRhinoceros
All the tea in China
Tea was the most important export that was weighed in the traditional Chinese unit ofmeasurement called a 'catty'. It is known colloquially as the Chinese pound and is about 1.1pounds. In China it is known as the jin斤 the word catty probably came from the Malay word. The modern weight is aligned to the metric system as exactly 500grams. The container for tea, a 'caddy', is believed to have been named after the measure.
Romance
These symbols are closely associated with romance and love. There are many other symbols that relate more specifically tomarriage and general good fortune.
ButterflyMirrorIceStrength
This set of symbols give the attribute of strength and fortitude to the meaning of a scene.
BeardDragonEagleMountainOxPineSwordTigerTortoiseBearTestimonial
Unsolicited comment from a genuine Chinasage visitor.
Wealth
A wish for riches was often tied up with success inexaminations as this came from securing a lucrative government post.
BasketCabbageCarpCinnamonCoinDeerDragonFishMagnoliaPeonyToadHatBest Wishes
These symbols have a general theme of good wishes and are often combined with something else to give a specific meaning for example good wishes on a marriage.
BambooElephantOrangeRu YiUnicorn
