Page 270 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A-Z 263
So much for the theory; in practice, matters were at all times rather different, though
the ancient Emperors were not slow to recognise the value of an astute choice of
personnel and of a highly organised administration. Duty trips – i.e. postings to more
or less remote parts of the Empire – were an integral part of the theory of the state
( tally).
Officials shown in Chinese New Year pictures are very often gods dressed in
court clothes with cap ( hat), chest and body sashes, and wearing ceremonial
shoes. The official holds in both hands a scroll bearing the words tian-guan ci fu, i.e.
‘May the heavenly official bring (you) happiness.’ Before a performance in the popular
theatre an actor in similar dress comes on and greets the audience with these words.

A child dressed up as an official offers wine to a high official

The heavenly official is the first member of a Taoist trinity, which also includes
the earth official and the water official. All three appear on the 15th day of the 1st month,
the beginning of the ternary period of shang yuan, which runs to the 14th day of the 7th
month. (The other two periods are zhong-yuan, from the 15th of the 7th to the end of the
11th month; and xia-yuan, from the 1st of the 12th to the 14th of the 1st month.
These periods have to do with the cult of the spirits of the dead.)
A career as an official offered many advantages and privileges, and could only be
attained via success in the very difficult and exacting state examinations. Thus good
wishes for success (often depending on a pun) can be read into certain symbols: cf. the