Chinese Symbols-Animals

Animals’ Symbolism In Decoration, Decorative Arts
Chinese Beliefs, and Feng Shui.

In Chinese decorative arts, pictured animals are representations for
aspects of life.
Knowing the symbolic meaning of an animal will lead to understanding the hidden message of the pictured. B
list:
(t: traditional Chinese; s: - simplified Chinese - pinyin)
Badger (獾 - huān) - great happiness
Bat (蝙蝠 - biānfú) - longevity, happiness, good luck

bats, pair of - double good fortune
bats, five - Five Blessings (a long life, riches, health, love of virtue and a natural death)
Bear (熊 - xióng), panda (熊猫 - xióngmāo) - man
Bee (蜜蜂 - mì fēng) - industry, industrious
Birds (t:鳥; s:鸟 - niǎo) - associated with the sun (t: 金烏; s: 金乌; pinyin: jīn wū); served as family emblem
China, associated with allegorical folk tales
Bixie (避邪 - bìxié) - mythological winged lion with two horns, that keeps evil at bay (see also Tianlu).
Butterfly (蝴蝶 - húdié) - long life, beauty and elegance

butterfly, pair of - love, specifically young love, happy social life for the young, undying bond between lover
yang energy of yin - yang, embroidered on clothing it strengthens the energy of love
butterfly and cat - wish for long live up to old age
butterfly, on hand - live to happy old age
butterfly, sipping nectar from peony - lover tasting joys of passion
butterfly with plum blossoms - long life, beauty
Cat (t:貓; s:猫 - māo) - disperses evil spirits (due to eye sight, also at night)
Crab (螃蟹 - pángxiè) - advantage/ benefit in business, prosperity, social status
Cicada (t: 蟬; s: 蝉 - chán) - eternal youth and happiness, immortality, life after death
Cock (t: 公雞; s: 公鸡 - jī) - reliability, epitome of fidelity and punctuality, the rooster is also a symbol of adv
Chinese name for its crest is the same than that for official (guān)
cock, red - protecting ones house from fire
cock, white - protecting ones house from fire and chasing away demons
cock, five - reminding parents to educate their sons (and hopefully daughters as well)
Cock (Rooster) is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac,
Crane (t: 鶴: s: 鹤 - hè) - longevity (four colours: black, blue, white, yellow), next to the phoenix the second
winged animal (note: spirits can ride on a crane)
crane, among clouds - wisdom, nobility
crane, black - longest longevity
crane, pair of - long marriage, ultimate longevity
crane, pine trees - determination, power, wealth
Cricket (蟋蟀 - xīshuài) - fighting spirit
Crow, three leged (t: 金烏; s: 金乌; pinyin: jīn wū) - it is often thought to inhabit and represent the sun, the su
depicted by the three legged bird (crow) on a red disc. (see also: Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty)
Deer (鹿 - lù) - wealth, long life (as the animal has, if not hunted down)
Dog (狗 - gǒu) - auspicious animal, upcomming fortune, understanding human spirit, obeying the superior
poodle (especially black)- more fortune
Dog is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Dove (t: 鴿; s: 鸽 - gē) - fidelity, fecundity
Dragon (t: 龍; s: 龙 - lóng) - male vigour, fertility, ultimate abundance, prosperity, good fortune also the symb
Emperor, divine mystical creature, symbol of the natural world, adaptability, transformation
dragon, pair of, placed together and turned away - eternity, yin - yang
dragon and phoenix - husband and wife, also symbol for Emperor and Empress, animal and bird kingdoms =
world, Taoism
The (Azure) Dragon is one of the four spiritual creatures, it is guarding the East.
Five clawed dragons are a symbol of the Emperor, the Son of Heaven, and imperial family, dragons with few
adorn hanging fabrics, decorative textiles etc.
The dragon is one of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty and one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Duck (t: 鴨: s: 鸭; pinyin: yā) - married bliss

duck in reed - wishing for positive examination results
Eagle (t: 鷹: s: 鹰; pinyin: yīng) - strength

eagle, on a rock in the sea - hero
Elephant (大象 - dàxiàng) - strength, astuteness

elephant, being ridden - happiness
Fenghuang (t: 鳳凰; s: 凤凰 - Fèng Huáng) - mythological Chinese birds, oftern translated as ‘Chinese phoen
the "August Rooster", the Rooster in the Chinese Zodiac, see phoenix and rooster
Fish (t: 魚; s: 鱼 - yú) - abundance, wealth (the fish is one of the "Eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune")
fish, pair of golden carp - love, domestic felicity, partnership, tenacity, fertility, renewal, abundance
eel - fertility, illusiveness
koi fish, red or black - success, wealth
Goose (t: 鵝; s:鹅; pinyin; é) - delivery of matrimonial messenges, married bliss, resourcefulness
Grasshopper (蚱蜢 - zhàměng) - nobility, wisdom
Heron (苍鹭 - cānglù) with lotus flowers - wishing for positive future, success in ones doing
Horse (t: 馬; s: 马; Pinyin: mǎ) - speed and perseverance

The horse is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Kingfisher (翡 - fěi) - peace, prosperity
Leopard (豹 - bào) - bravery, martial ferocity
Lion (t: 獅子; s: 狮子 - shīzi]) - holy being: strength, protection, valour, energy
see also: Imperial Guardian Lion, Liondance
Lobster (t: 龍蝦; s: 龙虾 - lóng xiā) - regeneration, resoluteness (similar to crab)
Magpie/ bird (鵲, (鹊) - què) - attract joy connected with unity of people, stability, celebrations, happy occasi
happiness
Mantis (螳螂 - tángláng) - mystery
Money Frog (蟾蜍 - chánchú)- the mythical money frog is one of the Chinese holy creatures that protects aga
and brings to household bigger enrichment in wealth.
Monkey (猴 - hóu) - driving away evil spirit (one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac is depicted on one of
of the Twelve Symbols of Imperial Sovereignty.)
Owl (猫头鹰 - māotóuyīng) - harbinger of death
Ox (牛 - niú) - springtime is near (one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac)
Panda (熊猫 - xióngmāo) - symbol of Man
Parrot (鹦鹉 - yīngwǔ) - warning to stay faithful in relationship
Peacock (孔雀 - kǒng què) - dignity, beauty, activate luck, fame, ‘the heavenly phoenix on earth’
Pheasant - the pheasant (雉 - zhì) is a common emblem for beauty and good fortune, the pheasant (華蟲 - huá
of the Twelve Imperial Symbols of Sovereignty represeting literary refinement,
Phoenix and Dragon, on the wall of

a goldsmith shop in China Town
Bangkok
Photo: © nationsonline.org
Phoenix (t: 鳳凰, s: 凤凰; fènghuánɡ) - virtue, duty, correct behaviour, humanity, reliability (the Five Human
strength, resilience, good fortune, opportunity, luck, considered to be the most important of the winged anima
of yin - yang
Phoenix and Dragon - wife and husband, signifies wedded bliss, also symbol for Empress and Emperor, bird
kingdoms = entire natural world, Taoism
phoenix, pair of, placed together and facing each other - eternity, yin - yang
Phoenix, the Red Bird of the South, is one of the four spiritual creatures, it is guarding the South. The pheasa
蟲) is one of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty.
see also: Five Elements Chart
Qilin (麒麟 - qílín), mystical hooved Chinese chimerical creature, with a physical apperance of various anim
horse, ox, dragon - guardian of home, protection, wisdom, good will (the qilin guards the gates of heaven)
At times Li Tie Guai of the Eight Immortals is riding the Qilin.
Quail (鶉, 鹑 - chún) - courage

Pig (t: 豬; s: 猪 - zhū) - tolerance, optimism
The pig is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Rabbit (兔 - tù) - representing hope

rabbit, jade/ moon - living on the moon, making the elixir of live and herbal medicine and accompanying the
Chang-Ngo (Chinese: 嫦娥; pinyin: Cháng'é), also known as Heng-E or Heng-O (姮娥; Héng'é), the goddess
who as well lives on the moon.
The rabbit is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Rat (鼠 - shǔ) - the rat is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Rooster (see: cock)
Sheep (羊 - yáng) - the male principle, Yang of yin - yang (one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac)
Shrimp (t: 蝦; s: 虾 - xiā) - long life
Snake (蛇 - shé) - woman, supernatural power, cunning; thesnake is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac
Tianlu (天禄 tiānlù) - mythological winged lion with one horn, they were deployed in pairs to guard a tomb,
"heavenly blessing".
Tiger (虎 - hǔ) - courage, bravery, and strength;

the (white) tiger is one of the four spiritual creatures and it is guarding the West.
The tiger is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Tortoise (Turtle; 乌龟 - wūguī) - longevity, immortality,

the Black Tortoise (玄武 - xuán wǔ) is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese star constellations and one of
heavenly creatures, it is guarding the North and represents the winter season.
Water buffalo (水牛 - shuǐniú) - springtime is near
See also:
Symbolism of Flowers
Symbolism of Colours
Symbolism of Food
Five Elements Chart

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Animals’ Symbolism In Decoration, Decorative Arts

Chinese Beliefs, and Feng Shui.

Badger (獾 - huān) - great happiness

Bat (蝙蝠 - biānfú) - longevity, happiness, good luck

Bear (熊 - xióng), panda (熊猫 - xióngmāo) - man

Bee (蜜蜂 - mì fēng) - industry, industrious

Butterfly (蝴蝶 - húdié) - long life, beauty and elegance

Crab (螃蟹 - pángxiè) - advantage/ benefit in business, prosperity, social status

Cricket (蟋蟀 - xīshuài) - fighting spirit

Dove (t: 鴿; s: 鸽 - gē) - fidelity, fecundity

Duck (t: 鴨: s: 鸭; pinyin: yā) - married bliss

Eagle (t: 鷹: s: 鹰; pinyin: yīng) - strength

Elephant (大象 - dàxiàng) - strength, astuteness

Grasshopper (蚱蜢 - zhàměng) - nobility, wisdom

Horse (t: 馬; s: 马; Pinyin: mǎ) - speed and perseverance

Kingfisher (翡 - fěi) - peace, prosperity

Leopard (豹 - bào) - bravery, martial ferocity

Lobster (t: 龍蝦; s: 龙虾 - lóng xiā) - regeneration, resoluteness (similar to crab)

Mantis (螳螂 - tángláng) - mystery

Owl (猫头鹰 - māotóuyīng) - harbinger of death

Ox (牛 - niú) - springtime is near (one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac)

Panda (熊猫 - xióngmāo) - symbol of Man

Parrot (鹦鹉 - yīngwǔ) - warning to stay faithful in relationship

Phoenix and Dragon, on the wall of

Quail (鶉, 鹑 - chún) - courage

Rabbit (兔 - tù) - representing hope

Rooster (see: cock)

Shrimp (t: 蝦; s: 虾 - xiā) - long life

Tiger (虎 - hǔ) - courage, bravery, and strength;

Tortoise (Turtle; 乌龟 - wūguī) - longevity, immortality,

Water buffalo (水牛 - shuǐniú) - springtime is near

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