21. Good Fortune As Things Happen According to Your Wishes
(Matching tags: print,blessing)

In Chinese, the persimmon (shi) is a homophone for the Chinese word “things.” The combination of two persimmons and a ruyi (a decorative object that symbolizes good fortune) means that “everything ...

22. Safe and Well Throughout the Four Seasons
(Matching tags: print,blessing)

The peony, lotus flower, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom in the vase represent spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively, and indicate the saying “safe and well throughout the four seasons.” ...

23. Carps Leaping over the Dragon Gate
(Matching tags: carp,dragon gate,print)

Legend has it that as long as the carps in the water swim against the tide and flow over the dragon gate waterfalls, they will immediately transform into dragons, rise into the sky, mount the clouds and ...

24. God of Wealth of the Five Directions
(Matching tags: god,print,blessing)

The God of Wealth is dressed in the ceremonial robe of a civil servant and stands in the middle with a joyous expression. One of his hands unfolds a tapestry with the words Wu Lu Jin Cai (Good Fortune ...

25. Fortune Coming from the Five Directions
(Matching tags: god,print,blessing,Wu Lu Shen)

“The five directions” refer to east, west, south, north, and the center, which implies that you can gain fortune wherever you go. Wu Lu Shen, also known as Wu Lu Cai Shen (God of Wealth of ...

26. Longevity and Wealth
(Matching tags: print,blessing)

This print illustrates two cats chasing butterflies in flowering shrubs. Mao (cat) and diae (butterfly) are homophones to the phrase “old age” (mao diae). Hence, the cat and butterfly together ...

27. The Image of the Character Shou (Longevity)
(Matching tags: print,blessing)

Inside the character for “longevity,” there appear famous figures and lucky beasts, including the ba xian (the eight immortals) as well as the three immortal chiefs Fu, Lu, and Shou (happiness, ...

28. Five Fortunes Accompanying a Long Life
(Matching tags: print,blessing)

The five bats flying in the sky depicted in the print represent the “five fortunes.” There are three chubby and adorable kids, each holding one of the three symbolic fruits: the peach (for ...

29. The Large Vase
(Matching tags: print,blessing)

This blessing print is complicated in its composition. A large vase with many different flowers in it means that all will be “safe and well” (ping an). There are images of a zither, Chinese ...

30. Lions Playing with a Rolled Silk Ball
(Matching tags: print,blessing)

In ancient times, the king of animals are said to be tigers while some people claimed that it is lions. Lion (shi) is homophonic to the Chinese word for “master.” In the ancient bureaucratic ...

31. Gua Yin Feng Hou (Hang the Official Seal, Appoint to a High Rank)
(Matching tags: print,blessing)

This decorating print uses homophone to express blessings. Two beehives hanging upside down on a pine tree, with a monkey (hou) driving the bees (feng) away; the pronunciations are similar in Chinese to ...

32. Hehe Ershen (The Two Gods of Love)
(Matching tags: print,blessing,Hehe Ershen)

The blade method of this picture is pleasantly straightforward, different from the experienced and flattering pieces of later days. The Hehe Ershen are gods of harmony. Wedding couples worship them to ...

33. Hehe Erxian (The Two Gods of Love)
(Matching tags: print,blessing,Hehe Erxian,Han Shan,Shi De)

Han Shan and Shi De were monks and good friends in the Zhenguan Period of Tang Dynasty. The Chinese characters for “harmony and good union” as a phrase (hehe) mean a harmonious mind, reconciliation, ...

34. Hehe Erxian (The Two Gods of Love)
(Matching tags: print,blessing,Hehe Erxian)

This print is used to congratulate couples on their wedding. Two boys hold a lotus and a treasure box, respectively, as a homophone (hehe) of the Chinese characters for “harmony and good union.” ...

35. Hehe Erxian (The Two Gods of Love)
(Matching tags: print,blessing,Hehe Erxian)

This print is used to congratulate couples on their wedding. Two boys walk together side-by-side with one’s arm resting on the other’s shoulder. One holds a lotus while the other holds a treasure ...

36. Cheng Huang Ye (Patron Deity of Cities)
(Matching tags: god,print,Cheng Huang Ye)

Cheng Huang Ye is the god who protects cities and towns. Originally he was a deity of ditches and was called Shui Yong. As the years passed, he gradually became the god of cities and towns, and then a ...

37. Zhong Kui
(Matching tags: god,print,Zhong Kui)

This print is printed using Qing Dynasty’s old version. The portrait of Zhong Kui is not only used to ward off the five poisonous creatures during the Dragon Boat Festival, but is also often hung ...

38. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Lord of the Underworld
(Matching tags: god,print,Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva)

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is commonly called Lord of the Underworld. He was once instructed by Buddha to save the six realms of existence. Therefore, he went to hell to save all creatures. He rules with ...

39. Manjusri Bodhisattva
(Matching tags: god,print,Manjusri Bodhisattva)

In the sixth century BCE, about the same era as Sakyamuni Buddha, Manjusri Bodhisattva was born in Sravasti (in present-day India). He came out from the right armpit of his mother. In Mahayana Buddhism, ...

40. Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy)
(Matching tags: goddess,print,Guanyin)

Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is one of the two highest-status Bodhisattva accompanying the Buddha. According to legend, when encountering troubles, as long as people faithfully chant her name, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva ...