Symbol Meanings Reference
To explore specific names for a particular symbol. Do you want to explore any of these symbols in greater depth, or learn how they might be applied or interpreted in different contexts, such as art or jewelry design?
Bamboo: longevity, hardiness, durability
Bat: good fortune
Bear: bravery and strength; a potent charm against robbers
Bee: industry and thrift
Buddha’s Hand (citron plant): wealth, or its acquisition
Butterfly: immortality
Carp: perseverance; also, as the dragon of the sea, watchfulness
Cat: protector against evil spirits of the night (double cats symbolize conjugal bliss)
Chrysanthemum: joviality; a life of ease after retirement
Cicada: immortality and resurrection; conductor to the next life
Coin: prosperity, wealthConch
shell: a prosperous voyage; a symbol of royalty
Crane: longevity and old age; conveyor of souls to the heavens
Cricket: emblem of courage; a symbol of summer
Crow: red or golden—filial piety; black (raven)—an omen of evil
Dog: fidelity Dog of Foo (actually a form of lion):energy and valor; protector
Dove (or pigeon): faithfulness, filial duty; impartiality
Dragon: emperor; strength; yang principle; lord of aquatic creatures
Duck: felicity; conjugal fidelity (double ducks symbolize connubial bliss)
Eagle / Falcon: boldness, keen vision; authority
Eight Trigrams: forces of nature (I Ching)
Elephant: strength, sagacity, and wisdom
Fish: abundance, fertility (double fish symbolize harmony and conjugal bliss)
Flywhisk: leadership, mercy
Frog: good fortune in gambling or money-making; the Three-Legged Frog symbolizes magic or the unattainable
Goat (also sheep): emblem of a retired life
Gourd: magic
Heart: one of the five centers of emotional feeling; the cycle of love
Horse: speed and perseverance
Hydra (split-tailed dragons): young dragons; playfulnessJu-i (Ruyi)
scepter: symbolic of Buddhist principles;
a guide Key pattern (meander): thunder and clouds
Kwan Yin (Lady of Mercy): mercy, compassion
Knot: longevity, true love; the wheel of life
Leaf: emblem of felicity
Lion: valor and energy (see Dog of Foo)
Lotus: purity, enlightenment
Lohan: Buddhist ascetic
Lute: one of the four signs of a scholar; a symbol of marital happiness
Monkey: trickery; warding off evil spirits
Moon: darkness; yin principle
Ox (cow): spring; agriculture
Palm: a retired life
Peach: longevity
Pear: wise and benevolent government
Pi (perforated disc): power and authority; early pagan symbol of the sun
Pig: protector of wealth
Phoenix: empress; the yang principle
Plum (Prunus): longevity and hardiness. Pine, plum, and bamboo are known as the “Three Friends” because they remain green in winter. Often shown together, they symbolize longevity and vitality.
Pomegranate: fertility
Quail: courage, pugnacity
Rat: industry and prosperity Rice
grains: fecundity; good harvest
Sheep: emblem of a retired life Stork (usually depicted with)
pine: longevity
Spider: protector against evil spirits
Sun: essence of the male principle in nature
Tael: Chinese unit of gold weight; symbolic of wealth or its acquisition
Tiger: courage, dignity, military power (lord of all land creatures)
Tortoise: longevity, strength, endurance
Umbrella: dignity, high rank
Unicorn: grandeur, illustrious offspring, wise government, longevity
Willow: meekness; spring; maidenhood
Yin–Yang: the Chinese principle of cosmic duality