Auspicious Immortal Figures

Using the image of humans as the core of auspicious patterns was a kind of self-recognition for ancient Chinese people. Patterns with human are usually more complicated than those with animals and plants, and there is always an interesting story behind each design.

Eight Immortals (八仙- Bāxiān)

The Eight immortals (the leader Lü Dongbin, Zhongli Quan, Zhang Guolao (or Elder Zhang Guo), Cao Guojiu (or Royal Uncle Cao), Li Tieguai (or Iron-crutch Li), Han Xiangzi (or Philosopher Han Xiang), Lan Caihe and He Xiangu (or Immortal Woman He) are legendary figures in the Chinese Taoist mythology, said to have lived at various times and attained immortality through their studies of nature’s secrets. They are popular in Chinese art as altogether they symbolize prosperity and longevity.

The Eight Immortals are usually represented together, and they are considered to be mildly amusing and relatively harmless beings who spend their time entertaining themselves in various ways. Patterns with the Eight Immortals Crossing the sea is particularly popular and behind it there is an interesting story. The legend says that one day, when the Eight Immortals are drinking, Tieguai Li suggests that they pay a visit to the sea. Everybody agrees merrily and decide that they should cross the sea with their own skill instead of taking a boat. Han Zhongli throws his big palm leaf into the sea, jumps on it and with his belly exposed floats away on the fan. Tieguai Li puts his crutch into the sea and sits on it. Zhang Guolao leads the paper donkey he rides into the water. He Xiangu throws into the water the lotus she is holding in her hands, stands on it and flows away. Following them Lü Dongbin throws his sword, Han Xiangzi his flower-basket, Lan Caihe his musical instrument, and Cao Guojiu his tablet of admission to Court, and they all cross the sea.  Today the expression "Eight Immortals cross the sea" can refer to each member of a group making a distinctive contribution to their collective success, but it can also refer to each of them being left to his own devices.

The Eight Immortals crossing the sea, wood carving

Three Star Gods (福禄寿 - Fúlùshòu)

The Three Star Gods are the God of Fortune (福星 - Fúxīng), God of Prosperity (祿星- Lùxīng) and God of Longevity (寿星- Shòuxing) The God of Fortune is depicted as a man carrying a young boy (the highest blessing is having a male child to carry on the family name), the God of Prosperity holds a scepter of power (symbolizing the ability to reap high rewards), while the God of Longevity carries a tall staff and a peach (representing immortality) and is sometimes accompanied by a crane or deer. They are one of the major themes of Chinese folk art and they are often represented together in New Year prints, paper cuts, etc. Altogether this design is a symbol of good fortune, enormous wealth and longevity.

New Year Print with the Three Star Gods, Qing Dynasty

The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (牛郎织女 – Niú Láng Zhī Nǚ)

The story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl is one of the most popular love stories of ancient China. According to the story, when the cowherd, Niú Láng, was still a child, hid parents died. His brother and sister in law took most of the family property and left him only an old cow. One day, to Niú Láng`s surprise, the old cow started talking and told him to go to the river bank, where several fairies were bathing. The cow asked Niú Láng to steal the red dress lying on the bank and to hide it. Niú Láng did as told and came to know the owner of the red dress, Zhī Nǚ, the granddaughter of the Goddess of Heaven. Zhī Nǚ and Niú Láng got married, lived happily and had two children. However, when the Goddess of Heaven found out that Zhī Nǚ married a mortal, got furious and ordered the troops from Heaven to bring back Zhī Nǚ. Under the guidance of the cow, Niú Láng killed the cow, put on his hide and carried his children in a basket off to heaven to look for Zhī Nǚ. When Niú Láng is about to catch Zhī Nǚ, the Goddess of Heaven took out her hairpin and scratched a wide river in the sky to separate the lovers forever. Later, Zhī Nǚ and Niú Láng became two stars, Vega and Altair, on the two opposite sides of the Milky Way. Out of pity the Goddess of Heaven allowed them to get together for a single night once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. It`s said that on this day all the magpies in the world fly up to heaven to form a bridge over the Milky Way so the lovers can meet again.

There are many decorative designs based on this legend, the most common the ones with the two lovers reunited on the bridge of magpies, and they symbolize conjugal affection and fidelity. 

Carved Lacquer Plate with Niu Lang and
Zhi Nu Pattern, Qing Dynasty, Nanjing Museum 

Read the introduction about Auspicious Symbols and Designs.
Back to Part 1 - Auspicious Beasts and Birds.
Back to part 2 - Auspicious Flowers and Plants.

Auspicious Beasts and Birds

Decorative patterns with animals appeared in Chinese history as early as during the Neolithic period. The patterns include not only existing animals but also legendary beasts.

Dragon (龙 - Lóng)

Of all traditional auspicious patterns the dragon certainly ranks first in terms of its long history and popularity. Since ancient times it has been considered the totem of the Chinese nation, and it is the most powerful symbol of good fortune as well as a symbol of power (it`s considered to be the king of all animals and was symbol of the emperor). According to the legend, the dragon is a composite animal: it has camel snout, antlers of a deer, rabbit eyes, serpent body with fish scales and fish tail, cow ears and eagle claws. 

According to the pattern, dragon designs can be divided into different categories, such as Twin Dragons holding onto a pearl, Dragon in a circle, Dragon and clouds, etc.

Twin Dragons holding on to a pearl, Beihai Park, Beijing

Phoenix (凤凰 - FèngHuáng)

The Phoenix is the king of birds and symbolizes good fortune and opportunity as it appears only in times of peace and prosperity. The Phoenix too is a composite beast, and it`s depicted as having the head of a chicken, the chin of a swallow, the neck of a snake, the claws of an eagle, the tail of a fish, the back of a turtle and the feathers of a peacock. Its Chinese name is the general term of legendary bird, both male and female, with Fèng denoting male and Huáng female. The combination of Phoenix and Dragon is a common pattern, and represent the perfect manifest of happiness and blessing.

Plate with Phoenix and Dragon, Suzhou Museum

Kylin (麒麟 - Qílín)

Kylin, a mythical creature in ancient Chinese legends, is the saddle horse of the immortals. The mythical Kylin is an animal with a dragon-like head surmounted by a pair of deer’s antlers and eyes of a lion. It has the scales of a snake, hooves of a horse and the tail of a cow. It is said that it can live as long as 2000 years, it can spit fire and its voice sounds like a thunder. Despite this Kylin has a mild temperament and, as it is friendly towards men it`s known as benevolent creature. In the folk culture it was believed that Kylin could bring offspring to people. The most popular legend about the Kylin delivering a child tells the story of the birth of Confucius. A Kylin, with a jade scroll in its mouth, appeared in the courtyard of his parents’ home. The scroll disclosed that the baby to be born is going to be “a man of extraordinary good moral character and talent, an exemplar of human excellence.  Although he is not on the throne, he has the virtue of a king”. On the same night Confucius was born. From this legend originated many auspicious patterns, of which “Kylin delivers a child” is the most popular.

Gold-plated Bronze Kylin in the Forbidden City, Beijing

Kylin delivering a child, New Year Wood Print

Lion (狮子 - Shīzi)

In traditional Chinese culture lions can expel specters and foresee disasters. Most commonly seen lion patterns include the “Auspicious Lion Playing with a Ball” and the “Adult Lion and Baby Lion”. The former originated from the Lion Dance, in which two people act as a lion (one waving the lion head and the other waving the lion body and tail) while another person holds a silk ball to play with the lion. The latter symbolizes promotion or passing down of social status and wealth one generation after another.

Gold-plated Bronze Lion playing with a ball in the Forbidden City, Beijing

Tiger (虎 - Hǔ)

Similarly to the lion, tigers can expel specters and bring good luck, for this reason prints with a tiger design were very commonly seen on the front door of houses. Another common patter featuring tigers is the “Tiger guards against the five poisonous creatures”. The five poisonous creatures refer to scorpion, viper, centipede, house lizard and toad, and symbolize the pests and destructive insects frequently seen in summer and autumn in ancient China.

New Year Wood Print of the Home Protecting Tiger

Fish (鱼 - Yú)

The fish symbolizes wealth as yu for ‘fish’ sounds like the yu for ‘abundance and affluence’. Due to its reproductive capability the fish also signifies marriage and the birth of many children. One of the most popular designs featuring this symbol is the “Carp leaping over the Dragon Gate”. According to an old tale, the legendary founder of the Xia Dynasty Da Yu to control the floods of the Yellow River built the Dragon Gate on Mount Longmen. Since then, many carps have come to the gate every year and have tried to jump over it. Those who successfully do so will turn into a dragon. During the Tang Dynasty, when the imperial examination system was adopted and grew popular, people described those who excelled in the examination as “climbing on the Dragon Gate”. Therefore the image of the carp jumping over the Dragon Gate became an auspicious pattern to wish students success in examinations.  

Paper cut with Carp leaping over the Dragon Gate

Bat (蝙蝠 - Biānfú)

The Chinese for bat sounds identical to the word for good fortune (fu 福) making bats a popular symbol of happiness and good fortune since ancient times. Particularly popular is the design with five bats together, which represents the “Five Blessings” ( wufu 五福): long life, wealth, health, love of virtue and a peaceful death. 

Gourd shaped vase decorated with bats,
picture from Asian art museum website

Crane (鹤 - Hè)

With a life span of about fifty or sixty years the crane is a symbol of longevity. It also represents high status as the crane is regarded as ‘a bird of the first rank’ in the imperial hierarchy. Flying cranes symbolizes a wish or hope to become an official in a higher position.

Male vest with Crane embroidery, Suzhou Museum

Magpies (喜鹊 - Xǐquè)

Since ancient times magpies have been considered as a symbol of good luck and fortune. According to the classic folk tale “Cowherd and Weaving Maiden”, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year, all magpies on hearth will fly to the heaven and build a bridge over the Milky Way so that Zhi Nu (the star Vega) and Niu Lang (the star Altair) could meet on the bridge. The magpie bridge is therefore seen as symbol of love and the image of magpie is often related to happy events. Chinese people also believe that the appearance of magpies foretells the imminence of a joyful event or good news. A popular pattern features magpies on the branches of plum trees and implies the coming of good news or happy events.

Luzhou Oil Paper Umbrella with Magpies on plum tree branches