Chinese Symbolism

1. Chinese Culture Symbols
Joanne Chen
2015

2. Presentation Outline
Symbolic meaning plays a important role in Chinese daily life.
Chinese Symbolism are coming from:
• The written and spoken language.
• Ancient cosmological and mythical beliefs.
• Traditional religious ceremonies.
Art Motifs Colors Food Fruits
Plants Numbers Vocabulary Utensils
Animal Feng Shui Gesture Objects
Symbols can be found in all aspects of Chinese daily life, such as:
Holidays Give and take Medicine Drama

3. Meaning of Chinese Numbers
Number Meaning Number Meaning
1 一 yī Unity / beginning / initiation 6 六 liù Lucky number / harmony / happy
2 二 èr Harmony / double 7 七 qī Disliked by people / Ghost month
/Death Memorial Days
3 三 sān Lucky number / many / stands for
heaven, earth, human
8 八 bā Prosperity / wealth / most favored
number
4 四 sì Disliked by people/ sound like dead
in Chinese
9 九 jiǔ completeness /eternity / sound like
“long time” in Chinese
5 五 wǔ Five elements 五行/ five luck五福 10 十 shí A full number / Reach the peak, you
will only decline.
Lucky numbers are based on Chinese words that sound similar to other Chinese words. The numbers 6, 8, and 9 are
believed to have auspicious meanings because their names sound similar to words that have positive meanings.

4. Lucky Number 8
Number 8 indicates prosperity, Wealth, success or social status.
Number 8 sounds similar to the word "Fa" in Cantonese. "Fa" can mean prosperity,
wealth, success, or social status.
Even numbers are preferred over odd numbers.
Chinese believe in harmony and balance. Therefore, even numbers are preferred over odd
numbers.
Lucky numbers in business.
In this industrial and commercial city, businessmen will select "lucky" days to celebrate grand
openings or sign contracts. If the day has an 8, it is believed to bring luck. If the day has a 9,
the business will have permanence. If the day has a 6, the venture will be successful.
Ba = fa

5. Color Theory based on the Five Elements
White – Metal: it is associated with death and
is the color worn at funerals. avoid wrapping
presents in White paper when gifting them to
someone.
Yellow – Earth - Yellow is an imperial color
representing power, royalty and prosperity in
traditional Chinese color symbolism.
Black- Water -Black color in Chinese
culture is associated with destruction,
evil, profundity, disasters, cruelty,
sadness and suffering.
Blue – Wood - represents the Wood
element and also symbolizes spring,
Red – Fire: It symbolizes luck,
happiness and joy.

6. Yellow, Red and Green are Considered Lucky Colors
• Yellow symbolized royalty and power of the throne.
• Red is the national color and represents happiness, beauty,
success and good fortune.
• Green symbolizes money. Green is also used to describe
organic things. A “man said to wear a green hat” means
he has an unfaithful wife. Thus, green should be used

7. Red Yellow BlackWhite Blue Green

8. Symbols of Plants and Flower
Pine: longevity Bamboo: longevity and vitality
Plum blossom: renewal and
Perseverance and purity
Chrysanthemum:
longevity
Peach:
longevity
Peony: royalty and virtue

9. Symbols of Animal
Bat: happiness and joy
Crane: longevity
Dragon: cosmic energy Qi
And good fortune
Fish: abundance

10. Symbols of Food
Dumpling:
Lucky, money
Chicken: family,
prosperity
Rice cake: prosperity
Seeds: offspring,
children
Fish: Abundance
Egg: Fertility Noodle: longevity Cake: prosperity

11. Symbols of Fruits
Kumquat: gold, wealthTangerine: Luck Pineapple: wealth
Pomegranate: offspring
Pomelo: abundance,
Having children
Apple: peace
Peach: immortality Persimmon: luck

12. Happiness, Luck, and Longevity
Symbols of Decorative Art

13. Money, prosperity, fertility, longevity
Chinese Feng Shui and meanings

14. Luck, Wealth, Longevity, Success
Symbols of Daoist Gods
Eight Immortals
八仙
Three Immortals
福禄寿三星公
West Heaven Mother
西王母

15. Masks and Color Meanings
Chinese Opera
• White: sinister, evil, crafty,
treacherous, and suspicious.
Anyone wearing a white mask
is usually the villain.
• Green: impulsive, violent, no
self restraint or self control.
• Red: brave, loyal.
• Black: rough, fierce, or
impartial.
• Yellow: ambitious, fierce, cool-
headed.
• Blue: steadfast, someone who
is loyal and sticks to one side
no matter what.
• The most visually arresting features of
Chinese opera are the bold & colorful
masks worn by the performers.
• These masks hearken back to an ancient
tradition of face-painting among warriors
and, as with war paint, the colors and
patterns bear symbolic meanings.
• The spirit and personality of each
character is effectively color coded.

16. Chinese Flag Symbolism
The flag of the People's Republic of China
(popularly called '五星紅旗' meaning 'Five-star
Red Flag') is a red field with a large yellow five-
pointed star and four smaller yellow five-
pointed stars.• The red color symbolizes communist revolution. Red is also the
traditional color in Chinese culture.
• Golden yellow is the official color of the Manchu dynasty and is very
dear to Chinese people. Yellow also implies that China belongs to the
Chinese people, a "yellow race"
• The large star represents the Communist Party. The four smaller stars
represent the four social classes of the traditional Chinese society -
the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and
the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist
Party of China.

17. Chinese Taboos
1. Don’t Share a Pear 2. Use Chopsticks Correctly
3. Don’t Wear a Green Hat
5. Giving the Right Gifts 7. Don’t Cut Hair in the
First Month of the Lunar Year
4. Get Away from Number Four
6. Don’t Whistle at Night

18. Luck, longevity, and prosperity
Chinese Idioms