Page 123 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

FABULOUS AND OTHER ANIMALS.
91
numerous iu the hills of Chehkiang, and seriously annoy the
husbandmen in the lowlands by their depreciations upon the
fields. Deep pits are dug near the base of the hills, and
covered with a bait of fresh grass, and many are annually
or drowned in them."
captured
The boar is a symbol of the wealth of the forest. A common
complimentary remark made by a guest to his host after
"
of his honoured house con-
accepting hospitality is, Oh, your
tains san tin hai bu," i.e. products of the mountain and delicacies
from the sea. The oyster is usually the symbol for the latter.
"
318
Mayers, p. : The five sacrificial animals are the ox,
and fowl."
goat, pig, dog,
" '
As these animals represent the twelve branches they
have been given here, but only the dragon, tiger, hare, horse,
and cock, are met with frequently on porcelain and not always
in sense. Among others that are to be found
any symbolical
the following may be mentioned :—
Bats.— Davis, vol. ii. p. 136 : " For some reason or other,
bats (which the Chinese call fei-shoo, ' flying mice ') are looked
upon as good omens, and constantly depicted as an emblem of
on various of use or ornament."
felicity objects
240 "
Franks, p. : Though written with a different character,
has
the name of the bat, full, exactly the same sound as full,
1 and therefore used a
happiness,' it is very commonly as
synonym for the latter. . . . Five bats symbolize the five
or viz.
blessings happinesses, longevity, riches, peacefulness,
love of virtue, a hapj)y death."
" "
Middle 78
Kingdom," vol. ii. p. : On New Year's Eve,
the streets are full of to and fro to conclude the
people hurrying
many matters which press upon them. Some are busy pasting
the five their lintels, signifying their desire that
papers upon
the five which constitute the sum of all human
blessings felicity,
namely, longevity, riches, health, love of virtue, and a natural
death, may be their favoured portion."
Lion. — one of the four animals
Although representing
power, the lion does not seem to be so highly thought of by
the Chinese as the because it is not so well
tiger, probably
known to them ; and the fact that it is generally represented
as with a or chu, seems to show that
playing ball, they