Symbol | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Pinyin | Implied or hidden meaning | Origin of the association | Exemplary image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calamus [1] [2] [3] | 菖蒲 | 菖蒲 | chāng pú | Protection from bad luck, evil spirits, and pathogens. | The leaves of a calamus plant resembles swords. | |
Carp (1) | 鯉 | 鲤 | lǐ | Strength, power, profit, and fertility. | The Mandarin Chinese word for "carp" (鯉, lǐ) sounds like that for "strength" (力, lì) and also the word for "profit" (利, lì). Carps lay a lot of eggs which is why they are associated with fertility. [4] [5] |
|
Carp (2) | 鯉 | 鲤 | lǐ | Persistence. | According an ancient Chinese myth called the lǐ yú tiào lóng mén (鯉魚跳龍門) carps that leap over the dragon gate shall transform into a Chinese dragon. [6] [7] [8] | |
Cash coins | 錢 | 钱 | qián | Wealth and prosperity. The cash coin is considered to be one of the "Eight Treasures". "Before". Completeness. |
Cash coins are round with a square hole in the middle which was based on the Ancient Chinese belief that the earth was square and the heavens were circular or round.
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12] The Mandarin Chinese word for "coin" (錢, qián) sounds like "before" (前, qián). An archaic Mandarin Chinese term for coins (泉, quán) sounds like the word for "complete" (全, quán). |
|
Cassia [13] | 桂 | 桂 | guì | High ranks through success in the imperial examination system, When cassia plants are placed together with calabash, pomegranate, and/or lotus seeds this represents the desire that many sons will achieve high ranks through the imperial examination system. |
The Mandarin Chinese word for "cassia" (桂, guì) sounds the same as the word for "high rank" (貴, guì). | |
Cat | 貓 | 猫 | Māo | Longevity. Protection of silkworms. |
The Mandarin Chinese word for "cat" (貓, māo) is a homophone for get word for an "octogenarian" (耄, mào).
[14]
[15] Cats hunt rats and mice which are the natural predators of the silkworm. [16] [17] [18] |
|
Chestnut [a] | 栗子 | 栗子 | Lì zi | Fertility. Good manners in a woman. |
Chestnuts are often given as a Chinese wedding gift.
[19]
[20] The Mandarin Chinese word meaning "chestnut" (栗子, lì zi) is a homophone to the phrase "producing children" (立子, lì zi). The first Hanzi character in the Mandarin Chinese word meaning "chestnut" (栗, lì) is a homophone to the word for "etiquette" (禮, lǐ) and is associated with that quality in females. |
|
Chopsticks | 筷子 | 筷子 | Kuài zi | The wish for a newlywed couple to immediately start producing offspring. | The Mandarin Chinese word for "chopsticks" (筷子, kuài zi) is homophonic with the phrase "fast sons" (快子, kuài zi). [21] [22] [23] | |
Chime stones | 磬 | 磬 | Qìng | Being rich and wealthy. | The Mandarin Chinese word for "chime stone" (磬, qìng) sounds similar to the Mandarin Chinese word for "to congratulate" (慶, qìng). Ancient Chinese chime stones were made from jade thus were considered to be expensive and therefore valuable. [24] The chime stone is considered to be a member of the eight treasures of China. |
|
Chrysanthemum | 菊 | 菊 | Jú | 10th month of the
Chinese calendar. People who maintain their virtuous nature in the face of adverse and tempting circumstances. Nobility and elegance. Longevity. [25] [26] |
The chrysanthemum is one of the Chinese
Four gentlemen. The chrysanthemum blooms quite late in the year when the circumstances are less than optimal. The Hanzi character for chrysanthemum looks like the Hanzi character for "forever" (永久, yǒng jiǔ). [b] |
|
Cicada | 蟬 | 蝉 | Chán | Immortality and rebirth. [27] [28] | Cicadas survive under the ground for a significant amount of time before they rise from the ground and fly towards the skies. | |
Citron (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) [c] |
佛手 | 佛手 | Fó shǒu | happiness and longevity. [29] [30] | The Mandarin Chinese word for Buddha's Hand (佛手, fó shǒu) sounds similar to the Mandarin Chinese words for "happiness" (福, fú) and longevity" (壽, shòu). | |
Clouds [d] | 雲 | 云 | yún | Heaven. Good luck. [31] [32] [33] |
The Mandarin Chinese word for "cloud" (雲 , yún) has a similar pronunciation as that for "luck" (運, yùn). | |
Coral | 珊瑚 | 珊瑚 | shān hú | Coral is considered to be one of the Chinese "Eight treasures". Promotions in rank for officials. Longevity. |
Historically the population of China thought that coral was an underwater "iron tree" (鐵樹, tiě shù) that only blossomed once every century. Red coral is believed to be auspicious because the colour red is associated with happiness, good fortune, and good luck. Coral buttons on the hats of government officials signify one of the nine grades. Coral resembles deer antlers and deer are associated with longevity. [34] [35] |
|
Crab | 蟹 | 蟹 | xiè | Peace and harmony. Success in the Chinese imperial examination system and a high rank as a government official. |
The Mandarin Chinese term for "crab" (蟹, xiè) sounds similar to the word for "harmony" (协, xié). The Mandarin Chinese term for "crab’s shell" (甲, jiǎ) also means "first", as in the person who has the highest score on the imperial examination system. [36] [37] |
|
Crane [e] | 鶴 | 鹤 | hè | Longevity. Success in the imperial examination system and achieving a high rank. A harmonious and good marriage. |
In Ancient China it was believed that cranes reach high ages before their death. Images of cranes were embroiled in the dresses of government officials with advanced ranks. The Mandarin Chinese word for "crane" (鶴, hè) sounds similar to the Mandarin Chinese word for "harmony" (合, hé). [38] [39] [40] |
|
Cypress | 柏 | 柏 | bǎi | Large quantities. | The Mandarin Chinese word for "cypress" (柏, bǎi) sounds similar to the Mandarin Chinese word for "one-hundred" (百, bǎi). [41] [42] |
<ref>{{cite web|url= |title= |date=|accessdate= July 2018|work= |language=en}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url= |title= |date=|accessdate= June 2018|work= |language=en}}</ref>
Symbol | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Pinyin | Implied or hidden meaning | Origin of the association | Exemplary image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Calamus [1] [2] [3] | 菖蒲 | 菖蒲 | chāng pú | Protection from bad luck, evil spirits, and pathogens. | The leaves of a calamus plant resembles swords. | |
Carp (1) | 鯉 | 鲤 | lǐ | Strength, power, profit, and fertility. | The Mandarin Chinese word for "carp" (鯉, lǐ) sounds like that for "strength" (力, lì) and also the word for "profit" (利, lì). Carps lay a lot of eggs which is why they are associated with fertility. [4] [5] |
|
Carp (2) | 鯉 | 鲤 | lǐ | Persistence. | According an ancient Chinese myth called the lǐ yú tiào lóng mén (鯉魚跳龍門) carps that leap over the dragon gate shall transform into a Chinese dragon. [6] [7] [8] | |
Cash coins | 錢 | 钱 | qián | Wealth and prosperity. The cash coin is considered to be one of the "Eight Treasures". "Before". Completeness. |
Cash coins are round with a square hole in the middle which was based on the Ancient Chinese belief that the earth was square and the heavens were circular or round.
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12] The Mandarin Chinese word for "coin" (錢, qián) sounds like "before" (前, qián). An archaic Mandarin Chinese term for coins (泉, quán) sounds like the word for "complete" (全, quán). |
|
Cassia [13] | 桂 | 桂 | guì | High ranks through success in the imperial examination system, When cassia plants are placed together with calabash, pomegranate, and/or lotus seeds this represents the desire that many sons will achieve high ranks through the imperial examination system. |
The Mandarin Chinese word for "cassia" (桂, guì) sounds the same as the word for "high rank" (貴, guì). | |
Cat | 貓 | 猫 | Māo | Longevity. Protection of silkworms. |
The Mandarin Chinese word for "cat" (貓, māo) is a homophone for get word for an "octogenarian" (耄, mào).
[14]
[15] Cats hunt rats and mice which are the natural predators of the silkworm. [16] [17] [18] |
|
Chestnut [a] | 栗子 | 栗子 | Lì zi | Fertility. Good manners in a woman. |
Chestnuts are often given as a Chinese wedding gift.
[19]
[20] The Mandarin Chinese word meaning "chestnut" (栗子, lì zi) is a homophone to the phrase "producing children" (立子, lì zi). The first Hanzi character in the Mandarin Chinese word meaning "chestnut" (栗, lì) is a homophone to the word for "etiquette" (禮, lǐ) and is associated with that quality in females. |
|
Chopsticks | 筷子 | 筷子 | Kuài zi | The wish for a newlywed couple to immediately start producing offspring. | The Mandarin Chinese word for "chopsticks" (筷子, kuài zi) is homophonic with the phrase "fast sons" (快子, kuài zi). [21] [22] [23] | |
Chime stones | 磬 | 磬 | Qìng | Being rich and wealthy. | The Mandarin Chinese word for "chime stone" (磬, qìng) sounds similar to the Mandarin Chinese word for "to congratulate" (慶, qìng). Ancient Chinese chime stones were made from jade thus were considered to be expensive and therefore valuable. [24] The chime stone is considered to be a member of the eight treasures of China. |
|
Chrysanthemum | 菊 | 菊 | Jú | 10th month of the
Chinese calendar. People who maintain their virtuous nature in the face of adverse and tempting circumstances. Nobility and elegance. Longevity. [25] [26] |
The chrysanthemum is one of the Chinese
Four gentlemen. The chrysanthemum blooms quite late in the year when the circumstances are less than optimal. The Hanzi character for chrysanthemum looks like the Hanzi character for "forever" (永久, yǒng jiǔ). [b] |
|
Cicada | 蟬 | 蝉 | Chán | Immortality and rebirth. [27] [28] | Cicadas survive under the ground for a significant amount of time before they rise from the ground and fly towards the skies. | |
Citron (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) [c] |
佛手 | 佛手 | Fó shǒu | happiness and longevity. [29] [30] | The Mandarin Chinese word for Buddha's Hand (佛手, fó shǒu) sounds similar to the Mandarin Chinese words for "happiness" (福, fú) and longevity" (壽, shòu). | |
Clouds [d] | 雲 | 云 | yún | Heaven. Good luck. [31] [32] [33] |
The Mandarin Chinese word for "cloud" (雲 , yún) has a similar pronunciation as that for "luck" (運, yùn). | |
Coral | 珊瑚 | 珊瑚 | shān hú | Coral is considered to be one of the Chinese "Eight treasures". Promotions in rank for officials. Longevity. |
Historically the population of China thought that coral was an underwater "iron tree" (鐵樹, tiě shù) that only blossomed once every century. Red coral is believed to be auspicious because the colour red is associated with happiness, good fortune, and good luck. Coral buttons on the hats of government officials signify one of the nine grades. Coral resembles deer antlers and deer are associated with longevity. [34] [35] |
|
Crab | 蟹 | 蟹 | xiè | Peace and harmony. Success in the Chinese imperial examination system and a high rank as a government official. |
The Mandarin Chinese term for "crab" (蟹, xiè) sounds similar to the word for "harmony" (协, xié). The Mandarin Chinese term for "crab’s shell" (甲, jiǎ) also means "first", as in the person who has the highest score on the imperial examination system. [36] [37] |
|
Crane [e] | 鶴 | 鹤 | hè | Longevity. Success in the imperial examination system and achieving a high rank. A harmonious and good marriage. |
In Ancient China it was believed that cranes reach high ages before their death. Images of cranes were embroiled in the dresses of government officials with advanced ranks. The Mandarin Chinese word for "crane" (鶴, hè) sounds similar to the Mandarin Chinese word for "harmony" (合, hé). [38] [39] [40] |
|
Cypress | 柏 | 柏 | bǎi | Large quantities. | The Mandarin Chinese word for "cypress" (柏, bǎi) sounds similar to the Mandarin Chinese word for "one-hundred" (百, bǎi). [41] [42] |
<ref>{{cite web|url= |title= |date=|accessdate= July 2018|work= |language=en}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url= |title= |date=|accessdate= June 2018|work= |language=en}}</ref>