Animals, plants, colours, numbers, characters and objects do not carry one timeless meaning. These guides show where an interpretation comes from and when it applies.
17 guides
Door gods
Who Are the Two Chinese Door Gods?
Qin Qiong · Yuchi Gong · paired doors · changing roles
Square-holed cash
Why Do Old Chinese Coins Have Square Holes?
Casting · square rod · filing · coin strings
Qilin and unicorn
Is the Qilin the Same as a Unicorn?
Composite body · auspicious rule · translation
Lucky cat
Is the Lucky Cat Chinese or Japanese?
Japanese origin · export · modern adoption
Chinese knots
What Does a Chinese Knot Mean?
Interlacing · names · attached objects · context
Pixiu
What Is a Pixiu—and Was It Always a Wealth Charm?
Ancient name · guardian imagery · modern market
Jade
Why Jade Matters So Much in Chinese Culture
Craft · ritual · virtue · material boundaries
Guardian lions
Why Chinese Guardian Lions Come in Pairs
Entrance · brocade ball · cub · viewing direction
Chinese zodiac
Why the Chinese Zodiac Has Twelve Animals
Earthly Branches · fixed order · year boundary
Yin and yang
What the Yin-Yang Symbol Actually Represents
Relationship · change · one connected whole
Bat
Why Bats Mean Good Fortune in Chinese Art
Homophone · five blessings · Qing objects
Dragon
Chinese Dragons and Western Dragons Are Not the Same Creature
Water · weather · translation