Animal Symbolisms
Ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular people or society
Ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular people or society
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THE CHINESE CALENDAR
It is believed that the 12 animals on the Chinese Zodiac calendar were the animals that appeared in response to an invitation to a celebration from Buddha or the Jade Emperor. Another legend says that the animals fought over their place on the calendar. In order to fairly resolve the conflict, the gods had them race across a river. The order of the animals on the calendar reflects their completion of the race—the rat placing first and the pig finishing last.
Each year of the Chinese Zodiac is represented by a different animal:
There are also five elements assigned to the 12 animals (years), giving different characteristics to each animal (year). Assigning each of the five elements to the 12 years creates 60 different combinations that results in a 60-year cycle.
Each year of the Chinese Zodiac is represented by a different animal:
- The 12 animals are: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
There are also five elements assigned to the 12 animals (years), giving different characteristics to each animal (year). Assigning each of the five elements to the 12 years creates 60 different combinations that results in a 60-year cycle.
- The five elements are: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth.
Read more:
The Chinese Zodiac | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/calendar/chinese-zodiac.html#ixzz2s9sKUbWG
The Chinese Zodiac | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/calendar/chinese-zodiac.html#ixzz2s9sKUbWG
Each sign has personality traits:
- Rat: Quick-witted, smart, charming, and persuasive
- Ox: Patient, kind, stubborn, and conservative
- Tiger: Authoritative, emotional, courageous, and intense
- Rabbit: Popular, compassionate, and sincere
- Dragon: Energetic, fearless, warm-hearted, and charismatic
- Snake: Charming, gregarious, introverted, generous, and smart
- Horse: Energetic, independent, impatient, and enjoy traveling
- Sheep: Mild-mannered, shy, kind, and peace-loving
- Monkey: Fun, energetic, and active
- Rooster: Independent, practical, hard-working, and observant
- Dog: Patient, diligent, generous, faithful, and kind
- Pig: Loving, tolerant, honest, and appreciative of luxury
Animal Symbolism in Decorations and Feng Shui
Badger
Great happiness
Great happiness
Bat
Longevity, happiness, good luck, a pair of bats = double good fortune; five bats = blessings (a long life, riches, health, love of virtue and a natural death)
Longevity, happiness, good luck, a pair of bats = double good fortune; five bats = blessings (a long life, riches, health, love of virtue and a natural death)
Bee
Industry, industrious
Industry, industrious
Birds
Associated with the sun
Associated with the sun
Bixie
Mythological winged lion with two horns, that keeps evil at bay
Mythological winged lion with two horns, that keeps evil at bay
Butterfly
Long life, beauty and elegance; A pair of butterflies = love, specifically young love, happy social life for the young, undying bond between lovers, represents yang energy of yin - yang, embroidered on clothing it strengthens the energy of love
- Butterfly and cat - wish for long live up to old age
- Butterfly, on hand - live to happy old age
- Butterfly, sipping nectar from peony - lover tasting joys of passion
- Butterfly with plum blossoms - long life, beauty
Long life, beauty and elegance; A pair of butterflies = love, specifically young love, happy social life for the young, undying bond between lovers, represents yang energy of yin - yang, embroidered on clothing it strengthens the energy of love
- Butterfly and cat - wish for long live up to old age
- Butterfly, on hand - live to happy old age
- Butterfly, sipping nectar from peony - lover tasting joys of passion
- Butterfly with plum blossoms - long life, beauty
Cat
Disperses evil spirits (due to eyesight, also at night)
Disperses evil spirits (due to eyesight, also at night)
Crab
Advantage/ benefit in business, prosperity, social status
Advantage/ benefit in business, prosperity, social status
Cicada
Eternal youth and happiness, immortality, life after death
Eternal youth and happiness, immortality, life after death
Cock
Reliability, epitome of fidelity and punctuality, the rooster is also a symbol of advancement.
Cock, red - protecting ones house from fire
Cock, white - protecting ones house from fire and chasing away demons
Cock, five - reminding parents to educate their sons (and hopefully daughters as well)
Reliability, epitome of fidelity and punctuality, the rooster is also a symbol of advancement.
Cock, red - protecting ones house from fire
Cock, white - protecting ones house from fire and chasing away demons
Cock, five - reminding parents to educate their sons (and hopefully daughters as well)
Crane
Longevity (four colours: black, blue, white, yellow), next to the phoenix the second most
important winged animal (note: spirits can ride on a crane)
- Crane, among clouds - wisdom, nobility
- Crane, black - longest longevity
- Crane, pair of - long marriage, ultimate longevity
- Crane, pine trees - determination, power, wealth
Longevity (four colours: black, blue, white, yellow), next to the phoenix the second most
important winged animal (note: spirits can ride on a crane)
- Crane, among clouds - wisdom, nobility
- Crane, black - longest longevity
- Crane, pair of - long marriage, ultimate longevity
- Crane, pine trees - determination, power, wealth
Cricket
Fighting spirit
Fighting spirit
Crow
Three legged - it is often thought to inhabit and represent the sun, the sun is sometimes depicted by the three-legged bird (crow) on a red disc.
Three legged - it is often thought to inhabit and represent the sun, the sun is sometimes depicted by the three-legged bird (crow) on a red disc.
Deer
Wealth, long life (as the animal has, if not hunted down).
Wealth, long life (as the animal has, if not hunted down).
Dog
Auspicious animal, upcoming fortune, understanding human spirit, obeying the superior poodle (especially black), more fortune.
Auspicious animal, upcoming fortune, understanding human spirit, obeying the superior poodle (especially black), more fortune.
Dove
Fidelity.
Fidelity.
Dragon
Male vigour, fertility, ultimate abundance, prosperity, good fortune also the symbol for the Emperor, divine mystical creature, symbol of the natural world, adaptability, transformation.
- Dragon - pair of, placed together and turned away - eternity, yin - yang.
- Dragon and phoenix - husband and wife, also symbol for Emperor and Empress.
- The (Azure) Dragon is one of the four spiritual creatures, it is guarding the East.
- Five clawed dragons are a symbol of the Emperor, the Son of Heaven, and imperial family,
dragons with fewer claws can adorn hanging fabrics, decorative textiles etc.
Male vigour, fertility, ultimate abundance, prosperity, good fortune also the symbol for the Emperor, divine mystical creature, symbol of the natural world, adaptability, transformation.
- Dragon - pair of, placed together and turned away - eternity, yin - yang.
- Dragon and phoenix - husband and wife, also symbol for Emperor and Empress.
- The (Azure) Dragon is one of the four spiritual creatures, it is guarding the East.
- Five clawed dragons are a symbol of the Emperor, the Son of Heaven, and imperial family,
dragons with fewer claws can adorn hanging fabrics, decorative textiles etc.
Duck
Married bliss. Duck in reed - wishing for positive examination results.
Married bliss. Duck in reed - wishing for positive examination results.
Eagle
Strength. Eagle, on a rock in the sea - hero
Strength. Eagle, on a rock in the sea - hero
Elephant
Strength, astuteness. Elephant being ridden - happiness
Strength, astuteness. Elephant being ridden - happiness
Fish
Abundance, wealth
- Fish, pair of golden carp - love, domestic felicity, partnership, tenacity, fertility, renewal,
abundance
- Eel - fertility, illusiveness
- Koi fish, red or black - success, wealth
Abundance, wealth
- Fish, pair of golden carp - love, domestic felicity, partnership, tenacity, fertility, renewal,
abundance
- Eel - fertility, illusiveness
- Koi fish, red or black - success, wealth
Goose
Delivery of matrimonial messages, married bliss, resourcefulness
Delivery of matrimonial messages, married bliss, resourcefulness
Grasshopper
Nobility and wisdom
Nobility and wisdom
Heron with lotus flowers - wishing for positive future, success in ones doing
Horse
Speed and perseverance
Speed and perseverance
Kingfisher
Peace, prosperity
Peace, prosperity
Leopard - Bravery and martial ferocity
Lion - Holy being: strength, protection, valour and energy
Lobster - Regeneration, resoluteness (similar to crab)
Magpie/ bird
Attract joy connected with unity of people, stability, celebrations, happy occasions and great happiness
Attract joy connected with unity of people, stability, celebrations, happy occasions and great happiness
Mantis
Mystery
Mystery
Monkey
Driving away evil spirit
Driving away evil spirit
Ox
Springtime is near
Springtime is near
Panda
Symbol of Man
Symbol of Man
Parrot
Warning to stay faithful in relationship
Warning to stay faithful in relationship
Peacock
Dignity, beauty, activate luck and fame
Dignity, beauty, activate luck and fame
Pheasant
A common emblem for beauty and good fortune
A common emblem for beauty and good fortune
Pig
Tolerance and optimism
Tolerance and optimism
Rabbit
Representing hope
Representing hope
Shrimp
Long life
Long life
Snake
Woman, supernatural power, cunning
Woman, supernatural power, cunning
Tiger
Courage, bravery, and strength
Courage, bravery, and strength
Tortoise / Turtle
Longevity, immortality
Longevity, immortality
Water Buffalo
Spring is near
Spring is near
