The cover design is from a Suzhou embroidery screen of the Qing Dynasty used specially for birthday celebrations. The screen contains a number of traditional Chinese auspicious symbols: The Chinese words for the deer on which the God of Longevity is riding and the bat on the right are homophones for "official position" and "happiness." The Taiji ("great ultimate") symbol on the scroll held by the God is a talisman for warding off disasters and evil spirits, and this symbol, resembling two fish frolicking in water, also stands for annual abundance, as fish and "surplus" are homophones. The pine tree, bamboo and plum blossoms, called the "the three winter companions" by the ancients, convey connotations of being perpetually young and full of vitality. The peaches, glossy ganoderma and gourd carded by the boys as well as decorative patterns of ruyi and shoucharacter at the bottom of the picture alt symbolize longevity, happiness, position and contentment. Replete with these symbols, the whole picture is overflowing with a festive atmosphere, perfect for a birthday celebration.
The screen contains a ni per of traditional hinese,asdecon ipattemsofruyial dshou-character attle bittom, of tfiicture.all symbolize I ngevity,happiness positionand cei ntment. Replete wimr-thesesymbols: thll whole picture, overflowing with ifestl W-atmosphere, perfeifor a bithday celebration.
Chinese Auspicious Pictures
Auspicious Sheep
Kylin on a Chopsticks Container
Bronze Dragon
"Pine and Crane" by Ren Bonian
The Two He Immortals in Embroidery
Pipa (Chinese fiddle)-Shaped Vase with Two Handles in the Form of a Ruyi
Bronze Deer Standing in the Front of the Leshou Hall in the Summer Palace
Window Lattice Carving of "Fish Going Through Lotus"
Picture of a Deer with Its Head Turned on a Broken Porcelain Piece
Stone Railing with a Carving of "Carp Leaping over the Dragon Gate"
Scene of Joy
The Four Babies of Happiness
Carvings of Dragon and Phoenix on the Stone Railings Of an Ancestral Memorial Hall
Ancient Broken Porcelain Pieces with the Theme of "Dongfang Shuo Stealing Peaches"
Jade Carvings of the Eight Immortals
Blue-White Porcelain Vase with Peaches and Bats
Wood Carving of "A Mouse Eating a Grape"
Clay Figurine of a Boy Offering Congratulations on an Elder's Birthday
Peony Flower and Light-Vented Bulbul
Child-Bestowing Kylin
Bronze Mirror with Dragon Design
Screen Wall with Design of Tortoise Shell Cracks
Wooden Door Lintel Carved with Dragon, Phoenix and Peony Pattern
Stone Carvings of the Gods of Happiness, Wealth and Rank, and Longevity
Peace
"Deer and Crane, Symbols offspring," Carved on a Wall
Deer and Crane, Symbols of Spring
Jade Carving of a Scene of Peace
Enamelware Elephant Carrying a Precious Bottle
Jade Ruyi
Everything Going Well
Piece of Qing Dynasty Folk Brocade with an Auspicious Pattern
Auspicious Porcelain Bowl
Auspicious Box
A New Sun
Amulet of "Five Planets Appearing in the East, Boding Well for the Middle Kingdom"
Qing Dynasty Eight-Symbol Ceramics
The Eight-Symbol Vase
……
Happinese
High Rank and Salary
Lingevity
Joy
Offspring
Kylin
Dragon
Dragon and Phoenix
Phonenix
