Archive for category Chinese Mystery
Gourd
Posted by sharon in Mysterious Emblem on December 4th, 2009
A gourd is a plant of liana. We know that it could be used as food and medicine. However, in ancient China, it was also used to carry medicine, wine as well as elixirs. There is an old saying goes that “I don’t know what he has got in his gourd”, meaning that someone is wondering what the person is planning to do.
Ancient Chinese regarded the gourd to be a symbol of prosperity as it is prolific in fruits and seeds. In some areas, there has been a custom of stealing gourds from the others’ fields on the Mid-Autumn Festival, hoping that they could have many children, especially sons.
It is also believed to be a charm to ward off evil spirits and disease because in Chinese, its first character hu has a similar pronunciation to fu, which means good fortune.
Also, in ancient times, gourds could be frequently seen carried by old men. Therefore, it gradually became the symbol of longevity.
Money Tree
Posted by sharon in Mysterious Emblem on November 10th, 2009
Money tree is a kind of legendary tree that sheds coins when shaken. In Chinese culture, it is a symbol of affluence, nobility and auspiciousness.
There were many versions about the origin of the money tree. Most people believed that it was originated from a story recorded in the Wei Zhi • of Annals of the Three Kingdoms. The story goes that a man named Bing Yuan picked up some coins on the street. He could not find the loser, so he put them on a tree.
Later, when the passersby saw the tree which had coins on it, they believed that it was a holy tree. Therefore, they put their own money on the tree in the hope that they could get more money with the blessings from the holy tree.
Since then, money tree has gradually become a kind of holy tree that can bring money and good fortune to people. Money trees have been excavated by the archaeologists from the ancient tombs, especially from the Han tombs for many times. It is believed that the concept money tree is derived at the latest from the Han Dynasty.
Magpie
Posted by sharon in Mysterious Emblem on October 7th, 2009
The magpie, also called xi que in Chinese, is always used to symbolize happiness as the character xi means happiness in Chinese. Therefore, two magpies facing each other means double happiness.
A pair of magpies also symbolizes marriage. There is a beautiful love story about the origin. The story goes that there were two lovers, the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid, who were separated by the Milky Way. They were only allowed to meet once each year on the double seventh. Moved by their love, magpies gathered and formed a bridge for the couple to meet on that day. From then on, marriage can be symbolized by a pair of magpies.
In China a magpie nesting near a house means gook luck for the people of the house. Especially is it good luck to hear the magpie just as one sets out on some undertaking. The chattering of the house magpie, in China as elsewhere, announces a coming guest.
Recent Comments