Page 129 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols 122
member; though as a rule it does not occur alone but usually in combination with other
symbolic plants and animals. A picture showing children bringing an outsize peach,
a pomegranate and a finger-lemon symbolises the wish ‘May you have long
life, many sons and every happiness.’ Here, ‘Buddha-hand’ (fo-shou) symbolises ‘happy
life’ (fu shou); the hand (shou) symbolises ‘long life’. A Buddha-hand with a
butterfly (die) means ‘long life’ or ‘life until 80’ (die).

‘Much happiness, long life and many sons!’

Fingernails

zhi-jia

Formerly there was a widespread belief that nail clippings should not be left lying
around, as owls might eat them and use them to cast evil spells. As in Latin
countries, the long fingernails affected until quite recently by rich Chinese were regarded
as a symbol of wealth: it was clear that such hands were not used for work! Nail guards to
prevent accidental breakage of these status symbols were in use from the 7th century AD
onwards. Men’s nails were expected to be shorter than those of women. If a woman has
fine slender fingers, these are compared to onion shoots, and in order to make them even
more attractive they are coloured with sap obtained from a South Chinese plant.