Chinese art has a unique place in the world because of its long history and richness in symbolism.

Whatever form an art object takes, it has a meaning by itself and in its decoration.

Studying the details in Chinese furniture, you will notice the engraving on the metal, the wood carvings or painted decorations.

The wealth of folklore and legends have enriched Chinese decorative art and symbolism, which can be classified into the following categories:

- Lines and geometric designs;
- Designs derived from ancient traditions;
- Designs derived from Taoism;
- Designs derived from Buddhism;
- Trees and flowers;
- Miscellaneous.

Several symbols are intriguing, so we will explain the meaning of some of them. In alphabetical order we give you a full list of popular symbols:

Bamboo
This stands for longevity and courage in adversity, as it is an evergreen. Because it grows straight it is a popular symbol for mandarins and represents an honest official.

Bats
The homonym "fu" stands for both "bat" and "happiness", hence the bat is a popular symbol. Five bats shown together signify the Five Blessings: longevity, health, wealth, virtue and a natural death.

Buddha's Hand
The name given to a citrus fruit, it resembles a hand with fingers outstretched to grasp money. It symbolises wealth and divine protection.

Butterfly
An old and very common symbol that suggests the meaning "great age" because in Chinese "die" also sounds like the word for seventy or eighty years of age. It is also a symbol for joy and marital happiness.

Cats
They have the ability to see in the dark, hence they can spot evil lurking. They were known as protectors of silk worms because they eat the rats that eat the worms. The word for cat, "mao", and for octogenarian are similar, so the cat is a wish for longevity.

Chrysanthemum
One of the four important flower emblems signifying autumn and a contented middle age.

Cicada
Represents eternal youth and immortality.

Clouds
Stylised clouds were a symbol of heaven and fertility. They were useful as space fillers and to unify a design on embroidery or decorated furniture.

Cockerel
Heralds the dawn and its crowing represents achievement and fame; it is the emblem of an official.

Coins
A symbol of the desire for wealth.

Crane
The crane is another longevity symbol as the bird is said to live for two thousand years. A bird flying or looking towards the sun represents a desire to rise high in the government hierarchy.

Cricket
This is a symbol of courage and of summer.

Deer
The homonym lu also means an official's salary, hence it is a sign of wealth and achievement. Dragon The dragon is a benevolent creature and the emblem of imperial authority. It is also used in connection with marriage, as it is a symbol of male vigour and fertility, as well as symbolising the emperor when it represents the bridegroom on his wedding day.

Dragons
A sign derived from ancient traditions is the Dragon. This celebrated symbol ranks first among all. The five-clawed dragon was reserved for the Emperor from ancient times until the end of the last dynasty. The four-clawed dragon associates with royalty and the three-clawed dragon with common people.

Fish
A homonym for fish, "yu", means superfluity. Because fish are seldom seen alone, the fish is an emblem of wealth and abundance. Owing to its reproductive powers, it is also the symbol of regeneration and because it is happy in its natural habitat it symbolises harmony and happiness. The dragon fish represents a carp changing into a dragon and is the symbol for the successful passing of an examination.

Flames
Stylised flames often surround mythical and mystical emblems. They are used also to symbolise fire and consuming energy.

Horse
This is an emblem of speed and perseverance. Only high officials were allowed to ride on a horse, hence it is also seen as a wish for high office.

Hundred Boys
This shows a wish for many sons. They are often used on bed hangings to encourage fertility.

Li Shui
"Li shui", meaning "upright water", is the name for the diagonal bands at the base of the dragon robes and the lower part of insignia squares on robes.

Lion
The lion is also depicted as a fierce animal which protects children from harm; it is often depicted in green.

Lotus
The lotus is an emblem of purity, fruitfulness and perfection. One of the four important flower emblems, it symbolises summer. It is also an important motif in Chinese art, where it represents the Buddha. It is the emblem of redemption and purity because it grows out of mud but its blossom is undefiled.

Magnolia
blossom A symbol of female beauty.

Mandarin duck
These are always shown in pairs representing male and female, and stand for marital fidelity and happiness. If separated, the birds pine away and die. It is often pictured with beautiful plumage.

Mountains
A symbol of earth, steadfastness and longevity. They are one of the elements of the cosmos, together with "li shui".

Narcissus
A sign of winter and of the Lunar New Year.

Peach
The blossom is a symbol of springtime, marriage and immortality. The fruit is a symbol of longevity and said to be the food of life, especially of the Eight Immortals.

Peony
Another of the four flower emblems, the peony signifies summer, love and affection. It also indicates a hope for greater advancement.

Phoenix
An ancient emblem signifying goodness and benevolence. It was used to symbolise the Empress of China and, on her wedding day, the bride. The phoenix is also a symbol of high achievement, as this bird can fly the closest to heaven.

Pine
One of the ten longevity symbols; because it is an evergreen it stands for long life, vigour, strength and vitality.

Plum blossom
The plum blossom, or prunus, is the last of the four flower emblems. It symbolises winter and long life because the blossom appears on leafless branches. The delicate pink flowers with their five petals also epitomise beauty.

Pomegranate
With its many seeds, the pomegranate symbolises abundance and a desire for many sons.

Qilin
A mythical composite beast with a dragon's head, a scaly body, a bushy lion's tail, a pair of horns and horse's hooves. It represents high rank and is thought to have great wisdom.

Ruyi
This is a sceptre and a symbol of rank, standing for "as you wish"or "all you desire".

Sacred fungus
The linzhi represents eternal life and is one of the ten symbols of longevity. It is often depicted as an amorphous shape with holes and stripes in shades of blue.

Shou
The character for long life can, it is said, be depicted in a hundred different variations. When combined with the bat it stands for long life and happiness.

Shuangxi
Meaning "double happiness", "shuangxi" is depicted by the character "yi", "happiness" repeated twice; as such it is always associated with marriage.

Sun
A symbol of heaven and the emperor, and of intellectual enlightenment. Thunder line Another prehistoric emblem dating from the Shang dynasty or before, its name comes from the resemblance to the ancient character for thunder. Often used as a border design, it is sometimes combined with the wan motif.

Swastika
In geometric designs we quite often see the Chinese Swastika. This signifies luck. It is also the character for the figure ten thousand. It can be represented singularly or continuously in border ornamentation meaning endless luck.

Tiger
The king of beasts, a fierce animal which protects children from evil. Vase Stands for peace because the Chinese word "ping" is a homonym for peace; it is one of the Hundred Treasures, symbols of antiquity.

Wan
One of the oldest design symbols in the world, said to have been associated with pre-historic shaman rituals. Often confused with the swastika, it is taken to mean "ten thousand years of long life".

Yin Yang
A symbol of the interaction of opposites in nature. The light portion, "yang", signifies the male and odd numbers, while the dark side, "yin", symbolises the female and even numbers.