Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs

by Williams, Charles Alfred Speed; Barrow, Terence

• ISBN13: 9780785811268
• ISBN10: 0785811265
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: Book Sales

Summary

The Eight Immortals, the five elements, the dragon and the phoenix, yin and yang -- representations of these important cultural symbols are pervasive in Chinese art and architecture. Indeed, without an understanding of their significance, much Asian art cannot be fully appreciated.

Table of Contents

A
Agriculture	1	(4)
Alarm-staff	5	(1)
Amber	5	(2)
Amitabha	7	(1)
Amusements	7	(7)
Ananda	14	(2)
Ancestral Worship	16	(1)
Ant	16	(2)
Apple	18	(1)
Apricot	18	(1)
Architecture	19	(8)
Astrology	27	(3)
Astronomy	30	(1)
Axe	31	(1)
Azalea	31	(2)
B
Bamboo	33	(1)
Bat	34	(1)
Bear	35	(1)
Beast of Greed	35	(2)
Bee	37	(1)
Begging-bowl	38	(1)
Bell	38	(2)
Birds and Beasts	40	(2)
Birth	42	(2)
Bodhi Tree	44	(1)
Books	45	(2)
Brahma	47	(1)
Bronze	47	(3)
Broom	50	(1)
Buddha's Hand	51	(1)
Butterfly	51	(2)
C
Cangue	53	(1)
Canopy	53	(1)
Carpets	53	(4)
Castanets	57	(1)
Cat	58	(1)
Cedrela	59	(1)
Chain	60	(1)
Charms	60	(5)
Cherry	65	(1)
Chinaware	65	(4)
Chisel-knife	69	(1)
Chrysanthemum	69	(1)
Cicada	70	(1)
Club	71	(1)
Coins	72	(4)
Colours	76	(4)
Compass	80	(3)
Conch-shell	83	(1)
Conch-shell Trumpet	83	(1)
Confucius	84	(2)
Convolvulus	86	(1)
Coral	87	(1)
Costume	87	(13)
Cotton	100	(1)
Crane	101	(1)
Cricket	102	(1)
Cross-thunderbolt	102	(1)
Cow	102	(1)
Crown of Brahma	103	(1)
Curious	103	(1)
Cycle of Sixty	104	(4)
D
Dagger	108	(1)
Death	108	(7)
Deer	115	(1)
Diamond Mace	116	(1)
Diaper Patterns	117	(7)
Dog	124	(3)
Donkey	127	(1)
Door Gods	128	(3)
Dove	131	(1)
Dragon	132	(9)
Dragon-fly	141	(1)
Drama	142	(4)
Drum	146	(1)
Duck	146	(2)
E
Eight Diagrams	148	(3)
Eight Immortals	151	(6)
Eight Treasures	157	(1)
Eighteen Lohan	157	(11)
Elephant	168	(3)
Elixir of Life	171	(2)
Embroidery	173	(1)
Enamelware	174	(1)
F
Falcon	175	(1)
Fan	176	(2)
Feng Shui	178	(1)
Fire	179	(4)
Fish	183	(3)
Five Elements	186	(1)
Five Poisons	187	(2)
Five Viscera	189	(1)
Flags	189	(2)
Flowers	191	(2)
Flute	193	(1)
Fly-whisk	193	(1)
Footprints of Buddha	194	(1)
Four Heavenly Kings	195	(2)
Four Treasures	197	(1)
Fowl	198	(2)
Fox	200	(2)
Fu Hsi	202	(3)
G
Gall-bladder	205	(1)
Glow-worm	205	(1)
Goad	206	(1)
God of Fire	206	(1)
God of Literature	207	(2)
God of Longevity	209	(1)
God of the Kitchen	210	(1)
God of War	211	(1)
God of Wealth	212	(3)
Gold	215	(1)
Gong	215	(1)
Goose, Wild	216	(1)
Gourd	217	(1)
Grain Measure	217	(1)
Grape	218	(1)
H
Hammer	219	(1)
Hand	219	(1)
Hare	220	(1)
Heart	221	(1)
Hemerocallis	222	(1)
Horse	222	(4)
Hsi Wang Mu	226	(2)
Hundred Antiques	228	(1)
I
Idols	229	(2)
Intestines	231	(1)
Iron	231	(2)
Islands of the Blest	233	(1)
J
Jade	234	(3)
Jar	237	(1)
Jasmine	238	(1)
Joo-I	238	(2)
K
Kidneys	240	(1)
Kingfisher	240	(1)
Kuan Yin	241	(4)
L
Lacquer	245	(1)
Lamaism	246	(5)
Laocius	251	(1)
Lapis Lazuli	252	(1)
Leopard	253	(1)
Lion	253	(2)
Liver	255	(1)
Lotus	255	(3)
Lozenge	258	(1)
Lungs	259	(1)
Lute	259	(2)
M
Mace	261	(1)
Magnolia	261	(1)
Magpie	262	(1)
Maitreya Buddha	263	(1)
Manjusri	264	(2)
Marriage	266	(5)
Medicine	271	(3)
Mencius	274	(1)
Mirrors	274	(3)
Monkey	277	(1)
Moon	278	(3)
Mosquito	281	(1)
Mulberry	282	(1)
Musical Instruments	283	(8)
Mystic Knot	291	(2)
N
Narcissus	293	(1)
No Cha	293	(1)
Numbers	294	(4)
O
Oak	298	(1)
Olea Fragrans	298	(1)
Oleander	299	(1)
Opium	299	(1)
Orange	300	(1)
Orchid	301	(1)
Owl	301	(1)
Ox	302	(3)
P
Pagoda	305	(1)
Painting	306	(7)
Palm-Tree	313	(1)
P'an Ku	313	(2)
Parrot	315	(1)
Peach	315	(2)
Peacock	317	(1)
Pear	318	(1)
Pearl	319	(1)
P'eng Niao	320	(1)
Peony	320	(1)
Persimmon	321	(1)
Pheasant	322	(1)
Phoenix	323	(3)
Pig	326	(1)
Pike	327	(1)
Pine	327	(1)
Plant of Long Life	328	(2)
Plantain	330	(1)
Plum	330	(2)
Po Ku T'u	332	(1)
Pomegranate	333	(1)
Praying-mantis	333	(1)
P'u Hsien	334	(2)
Q
Quail	336	(1)
Queen of Heaven	336	(3)
R
Rat	339	(1)
Reed-organ	339	(1)
Rhinoceros Horns	340	(1)
Rice	341	(1)
Ring	342	(1)
Rosary	342	(3)
S
Scroll	345	(1)
Seals	345	(3)
Secret Societies	348	(1)
Seven Appearances	349	(1)
Shakyamuni Buddha	349	(7)
Sheep	356	(1)
Shop-signs	357	(2)
Shun	359	(1)
Silk	359	(2)
Silver	361	(1)
Skeleton Staff	362	(1)
Skull-cup	362	(1)
Snake	362	(1)
Snare	363	(1)
Spear	363	(1)
Spiritualism	364	(1)
Spleen	365	(1)
Stars	365	(9)
Stomach	374	(1)
Stone	374	(2)
Stone Chime	376	(2)
Su Shih	378	(1)
Sun	378	(2)
Swallow	380	(1)
Swastika	381	(1)
Sword	382	(3)
T
Ta Yu	385	(1)
T'ai Chi	385	(2)
Tea	387	(4)
Ten Celestial Stems	391	(1)
Thigh-bone Trumpet	392	(1)
Three Great Beings	392	(1)
Three Pure Ones	392	(4)
Thunderbolt	396	(1)
Thunderbolt-dagger	397	(1)
Tiger	398	(2)
Ti Tsang	400	(1)
Toad	401	(2)
Tortoise	403	(3)
Trees	406	(3)
Trident	409	(1)
Twelve Ornaments	409	(2)
Twelve Terrestrial Branches	411	(2)
U
Umbrella	413	(1)
Unicorn	413	(3)
V
Vase	416	(1)
Vermicelli	416	(2)
Vulture Peak	418	(1)
W
Water	419	(4)
Water-pot	423	(1)
Wei-Ch`i	423	(1)
Wei T`o	424	(1)
Wheel of the Law	424	(3)
Willow	427	(13)
Wish-granting Gem	440	(1)
Wolf	440	(1)
Wood	440	(1)
Written Characters	441	(10)
Y
Yama	451	(7)
Yin and Yang	458	(1)
Yao	458