Page 162 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book
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A-Z 155
Goldfish
jin yu
The Chinese are very fond of goldfish and keep them in bowls in their homes or in ponds
in the temple gardens. The Chinese words meaning ‘goldfish’ are phonetically identical
with the two words meaning ‘gold in abundance’, so goldfish make a very acceptable
wedding present. When represented together with a lotus (jin-yu tong he) the
goldfish indicates ‘gold and jade (jin yu) joined together’ (tong he, which is homonymic
with he = lotus). A picture showing a pair of goldfish is a symbol of fertility: but the
goldfish may also represent a widow’s lover, or a man supported by a prostitute.
Good Luck, The Five Gods of
wu fu
The gods of good luck are usually represented as men clad in the red robes of
officials. They confer long life (often symbolised as a man with a crane and
flowers); riches; welfare (a man with a vase); virtue; health.
The five gods of good luck with three wine-barrels
