Chinese Art Symbols

Although many diverse cultures have carved jade, it is really the Chinese who have raised it to the level of an art. Most pieces follow classical patterns and motifs; we list some of the more common symbols and a brief summary of meaning.

• Apple (Apple Blossom):
  Symbolic of feminine beauty and eternal peace
• Apricot:
  Representation of the Chinese female
• Almond:
  See apricot
• Archer's Ring:
  Prestige & symbolic of the emperors' power
• Axe:
  Symbolic of the marriage go-between
• Bamboo:
  Longevity, durability and resilience
• Bat:
  Happiness and longevity
• Bear:
  Strength, courage and bravery
• Bee:
  Industriousness and prudence
• Bell:
  Respect and reverence to one's superiors
• Boar/Pig:
  Wealth and prosperity, especially for business
  #12 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• Broom:
  Insight, wisdom; the 'sweeping away' of worries
• Buddha:
  
• Buddha's Hand (citron plant):
  Wealth, and the symbol of Buddha's Hand
• Butterfly:
  A symbol of love, especially young love
• Cat:
  Protector against evil spirits of the night. (Double cats are symbolic of conjugal bliss.)
• Chrysanthemum:
  Joviality; a life of ease after retirement
• Cicada:
  Immortality and resurrection; happiness and eternal youth
• Coin:
  Prosperity and wealth
• Conch shell:
  Insignia of royalty and a symbol of a prosperous voyage
• Crane:
  Symbol of longevity; conveyor of the soul to the Western Heaven
• Cricket:
  Symbol of courage and the symbol of summer
• Crow:
  Filial piety; known to take care of its elderly disabled parents
• Cherry:
  Symbol for beauty, cosmetic and medicinal properties,emblem of the fair sex
• Deer:
  Symbol of immortality and longevity
• Dog:
  Symbol of fidelity
  #11 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• Dog of "Fo" or Fu-Dog (actually a form of lion):
  Courageous and fierce, symbol for engery and valor; protector
• Dove (or pigeon):
  Symbol of long life. The “pigeon-staff” is a symbol of protracted longevity and filial duty. 
• Dragon:
  Symbol of imperial power, strength, goodness vigilance and safe-guard; Yang Principal - Masculine
  #5 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• Duck:
  Emblem of felicity and symbol of conjugal fidelity
• Eagle, Falcon:
  Boldness, strength, and keen vision; authority
• Eight trigrams:
  Yin & Yang, Forces of nature (I Ching)
• Elephant:
  Strength, sagacity, and prudence, power of energy
• Fire:
  Symbolic of danger, speed, anger, ferocity, and lust; motif of happiness, longevity & gladness
• Fish:
  Wealth and abundance, harmony and connubial bliss, symbol of regeneration and freedom (Double fish: connubial bliss, harmony)
• Flywhisk:
  Symbolic of leadership, and mercy
• Fox:
  Craftiness, cunning, "mischief" in love affairs
• Frog:
  Good fortune in gambling or money-making. The Three-Legged Frog symbolizes 'magic' for the 'unattainable'
• Fungus (or mushroom):
  Symbol of longevity or immortality
• Goat (also sheep/ram):
  Emblem of retired life
  #8 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• Gourd:
  Symbol of mystery, sorcery and magic
• Heart:
  It is one of the five centers of emotional feelings; cycle of love
• Horse:
  Symbol of speed and perseverance
  #7 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• Hydra (or split-tailed dragons):
  Young dragons; playfulness also having the magical powers of geomancy
• Ju-I:
  A "scepter" symbolic of Buddhist principals
• Key pattern (meander pattern):
  Symbolic of thunder and clouds
• Kwan Yin:
  Goddess of mercy who tames the forces of nature with mercy and compassion
• Knot (endless knot):
  Symbol of longevity, true love, "wheel" of life
• Leaf:
  Emblem of felicity
• Lion:
  Defender of law and protector of sacred buildings
• Lotus:
  Symbol of purity, perfection and enlightenment
• Lohan or Arhat:
  Buddhist ascetic & the personal disciples of the Buddha
• Lute:
  A string instrument that produces thoughts of fidelity and purity
• Monkey:
  Emblem of trickery; protection against malicious spirits
  #9 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• Moon:
  Essence of the female or yin qualities in nature
• Ox (cow):
  Spring; agriculture
  #2 in the Chinese Zodiac sign Chart
• Palm:
  Retired life
• Peach:
  Emblem of marriage; symbol of immortality and springtime
• Pear:
  Symbol of longevity
• Pearl:
  Feminine beauty and purity
• Pi (perforated disc):
  Power and authority; early symbol of sun
• Pig/Boar:
  Wealth and prosperity, especially for business
  #12 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• Pine:
  Emblem for longevity and friendship that prevails through hardship
• Phoenix empress:
  Symbol of sun or the Yin Principle - Feminine
• Plum (prunus):
  Symbol of winter and longevity
• Pomegranate:
  Symbol of fertility
• Quail:
  Symbol of courage and pugnacity
• Rabbit/Hare:
  Symbol of longevity
  #4 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
  
• Rat:
  Symbol of industry and prosperity
  #1 In Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• RamSee Goat/Sheep:
  #8 in Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• Rice grains:
  Emblen of fecundity and a good harvest
• Rooster:
  Symbolic of beginnings and the dawning of a new day
  #10 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
  
• Sheep (see Goat):
  #8 in Chinese Zodiac Signs
• Snake:
  Symbolic of cunning and evil but also respected for its supernatural powers
  #6 in the Chinese Zodiac signs chart
• Snuff Bottles: Status symbol for upper class
• Spider:
  Protector against evil spirits
• Stork:
  Longevity and unfettered liberty
• Sun:
  Essence of the male principal in nature
• Tael:
  Chinese unit of gold weight; symbolic of wealth or its aquisition
• Tiger:
  Courage, dignity, military power (lord of all land creatures)
  #3 in the Chinese Zodiac sign chart
• Tortoise/Turtle:
  Symbol of longevity, strength, endurance
• Umbrella:
  Symbol of respect, protection
• Unicorn:
  Symbol of longevity, grandeur, felicity, illustrious offspring, and wise administration
• Willow:
  Symbol of beautiful in life and undivided in death
• Yin-yang:
  The Chinese principal of cosmic duality, negative and positive principles of universal life