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Animals
Why Lotus and Fish Mean Abundance Year After Year
How lotus and fish create the Chinese wish for abundance year after year, and why not every lotus-pond image carries the same meaning.
Animals
Why the Dragon and Phoenix Appear Together in Chinese Art
Learn when a dragon and phoenix represent a harmonious marriage, and why the same pairing can carry a different meaning on an imperial birthday object.
Animals
How Chinese Dragons Differ from Western Dragons
Compare Chinese dragons with medieval European dragons through body shape, story roles, imperial symbolism, and museum objects.
Animals
Why Do Bats Mean Good Fortune in Chinese Art?
Learn how the fu homophone turns bats into blessings, why five bats evoke the Five Blessings, and how surrounding motifs complete the design.