Chinese Culture SymbolsJoanne Chen

2015

Presentation Outline

Symbolic meaning plays a important role in Chinese daily life. Chinese Symbolism are coming from:• The written and spoken language.• Ancient cosmological and mythical beliefs. • Traditional religious ceremonies.

Art Motifs Colors Food FruitsPlants Numbers Vocabulary Utensils Animal Feng Shui Gesture Objects

Symbols can be found in all aspects of Chinese daily life, such as:

Holidays Give and take

Medicine Drama

Meaning of Chinese Numbers

Number Meaning Number Meaning

1 一 yī Unity / beginning / initiation 6 六 liù Lucky number / harmony / happy

2 二 èr Harmony / double 7 七 qī Disliked by people / Ghost month

/Death Memorial Days

3 三 sān Lucky number / many / stands for heaven, earth, human 8 八 bā Prosperity / wealth / most favored

number

4 四 sì Disliked by people/ sound like dead in Chinese 9 九 jiǔ completeness /eternity / sound like

“long time” in Chinese

5 五 wǔ Five elements 五行 / five luck 五福 10 十 shí

A full number / Reach the peak, you will only decline.

Lucky numbers are based on Chinese words that sound similar to other Chinese words. The numbers 6, 8, and 9 are believed to have auspicious meanings because their names sound similar to words that have positive meanings.

Lucky Number 8

Number 8 indicates prosperity, Wealth, success or social status. Number 8 sounds similar to the word "Fa" in Cantonese. "Fa" can mean prosperity, wealth, success, or social status.

Even numbers are preferred over odd numbers. Chinese believe in harmony and balance. Therefore, even numbers are preferred over odd numbers. Lucky numbers in business.In this industrial and commercial city, businessmen will select "lucky" days to celebrate grand openings or sign contracts. If the day has an 8, it is believed to bring luck. If the day has a 9, the business will have permanence. If the day has a 6, the venture will be successful.Ba = fa

Color Theory based on the Five Elements

White – Metal: it is associated with death and is the color worn at funerals. avoid wrapping presents in White paper when gifting them to someone.

Yellow – Earth - Yellow is an imperial color representing power, royalty and prosperity in traditional Chinese color symbolism.

Black- Water -Black color in Chinese culture is associated with destruction, evil, profundity, disasters, cruelty, sadness and suffering. Blue – Wood - represents the Wood

element and also symbolizes spring, immortality and advancement.

Red – Fire: It symbolizes luck, happiness and joy.

Yellow, Red and Green are Considered Lucky Colors

• Yellow symbolized royalty and power of the throne. • Red is the national color and represents happiness, beauty,

success and good fortune. • Green symbolizes money. Green is also used to describe

organic things. A “man said to wear a green hat” means he has an unfaithful wife. Thus, green should be used carefully as it could symbolize something totally different.

Red Yellow BlackWhite Blue Green

Symbols of Plants and Flower

Pine: longevity Bamboo: longevity and vitality

Plum blossom: renewal andPerseverance and purity

Chrysanthemum: longevity

Peach: longevity

Peony: royalty and virtue

Symbols of Animal

Bat: happiness and joyCrane: longevity

Dragon: cosmic energy QiAnd good fortune

Fish: abundance

Symbols of Food

Dumpling:Lucky, money

Chicken: family, prosperity

Rice cake: prosperity

Seeds: offspring,children

Fish: Abundance

Egg: Fertility Noodle: longevity Cake: prosperity

Symbols of Fruits

Kumquat: gold, wealthTangerine: Luck Pineapple: wealth

Pomegranate: offspring

Pomelo: abundance,Having children

Apple: peacePeach: immortality Persimmon: luck

Happiness, Luck, and LongevitySymbols of Decorative Art

Money, prosperity, fertility, longevityChinese Feng Shui and meanings

Luck, Wealth, Longevity, SuccessSymbols of Daoist Gods

Eight Immortals八仙

Three Immortals福禄寿三星公West Heaven Mother西王母

Masks and Color MeaningsChinese Opera

• White: sinister, evil, crafty, treacherous, and suspicious. Anyone wearing a white mask is usually the villain.

• Green: impulsive, violent, no self restraint or self control.

• Red: brave, loyal.• Black: rough, fierce, or

impartial.• Yellow: ambitious, fierce, cool-

headed.• Blue: steadfast, someone who

is loyal and sticks to one side no matter what.

• Gold and silver faces represent mystery and aloofness.

• The most visually arresting features of Chinese opera are the bold & colorful masks worn by the performers.

• These masks hearken back to an ancient tradition of face-painting among warriors and, as with war paint, the colors and patterns bear symbolic meanings.

• The spirit and personality of each character is effectively color coded.

Chinese Flag Symbolism The flag of the People's Republic of China (popularly called ' 五星紅旗 ' meaning 'Five-star Red Flag') is a red field with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars.• The red color symbolizes communist revolution. Red is also the traditional color in Chinese culture.

• Golden yellow is the official color of the Manchu dynasty and is very dear to Chinese people. Yellow also implies that China belongs to the Chinese people, a "yellow race"

• The large star represents the Communist Party. The four smaller stars represent the four social classes of the traditional Chinese society - the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist Party of China.

• Five 5-pointed stars reflects the importance of the number five in Chinese philosophy (The number 5 is associated with the five elements - Water, Fire, Earth, Wood, and Metal.)

Chinese Taboos

1. Don’t Share a Pear2. Use Chopsticks Correctly

3. Don’t Wear a Green Hat

5. Giving the Right Gifts

7. Don’t Cut Hair in the First Month of the Lunar Year

4. Get Away from Number Four

6. Don’t Whistle at Night

Do Not Give Clock

Luck, longevity, and prosperity Chinese Idioms