Page 30 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book
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Badger
huan
The badger is not an animal that has appealed to the Chinese imagination. In Japan, on
the other hand, the tanuki, the badger, plays a part equivalent in importance to that of
the fox in China. They differ very much, however, in character. Thus, the fox likes to
turn into a seductive girl or an enticing woman, while the badger prefers to masquerade
as a fat-bellied abbot or a ragged mendicant monk:
The badger is out of his mind with excitement,
Beating on his stomach.
That’s what he likes to do –
Otherwise… he doesn’t think of much else. (Shikitei Samba)
Badger and magpie: ‘Joy from heaven – joy on earth’
The Chinese word for ‘badger’ is phonetically identical with the word meaning ‘to
enjoy oneself, to be glad’ (huan). Hence, badger and magpie are shown together to
symbolise the wish ‘may you experience great happiness’.
