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Quail is a middle-sized bird, and is nowadays farm-raised for table food and their eggs. However, they play an interesting role in traditional Chinese art with an auspicious meaning.
Quail’s Chinese name is ‘an chun’(鹌鹑). Its first character 鹌 (‘an’) is often used in Chinese language for its pun on ‘an’(安) which means peace and safety.
Related Pun Pictures:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/may-you-live-in-peace-and-leisure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May you live in peace and leisure 安居</a>
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/may-the-country-be-in-peace-and-order-forever/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May the country be in peace and order forever 久安长治</a>
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/may-you-enjoy-a-peaceful-life-year-after-year/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May you enjoy a peaceful life year after year 岁岁平安</a>

Quail

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Also called &#8216;ba bao&#8217; (八宝), &#8216;ba rui xiang&#8217; (八瑞相), or ‘ji xiang ba bao’(吉祥八宝).
There are eight emblems in traditional Tibetan Buddhism symbolising happiness and spiritual well-being: Dharma wheel, conch shell, parasol, <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/lotus-lian-hua/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lotus</a>, treasure vase, <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/goldfish/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">goldfish</a>, victory banner, and endless knot.

Eight auspicious emblems

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In this motif composition, the <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/eight-daoist-immortals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eight Daoist Immortals</a> (ba xian 八仙) are not depicted in figural images, but rather are represented by their distinctive attributes respectively. The fan stands for <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/zhongli-quan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zhongli Quan</a> 钟离权, the sword stands for <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/lv-dongbin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lv Dongbin</a> 吕洞宾, the clapper stands for <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/cao-guojiu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cao Guojiu</a> 曹国舅, the bamboo flute stands for Han Xiangzi 韩湘子, the <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/lotus-he-hua/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lotus flower</a> or the <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/bamboo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bamboo </a>colander stands for He Xian’gu 何仙姑, the basket of flowers stands for Lan Caihe 蓝采和, the double <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/gourd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gourd</a> stands for Li Tieguai 李铁拐, and the membranophone <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/fish/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fish </a>drum stands for Zhang Guolao 张果老.
The arrangement of the eight emblems of the immortals surrounding either an image of a <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/peach-fruit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">peach</a>, which is symbolic for <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/longevity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">longevity</a>, or a pictorial form of a Chinese character &#8211; ‘shou 寿 or 壽’, which also means ‘longevity’, is emphasising the message which celebrates the receiver’s birthday and wishes the receiver a long life.
Pictorial listings with similar themes:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/happy-birthday-mother/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Happy Birthday, Mother!</a> 萱寿
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/heavenly-immortals-and-fairies-are-celebrating-your-birthday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heavenly immortals and fairies are celebrating your birthday</a> 天仙拱寿

Eight Daoist Immortals are congratulating your birthday

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<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/phoenix/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Phoenix </a>has been deemed as a holy, noble and beautiful bird in the Chinese folk myths and was regarded as the king of all birds.
In Volume 915 of the comprehensive reference book ‘Readings of the Taiping Era’ (太平御览 Tai Ping Yu Lan) which was edited by Li Fang (李昉, 925–996) and other scholars in Northern Song dynasty, there was a quoted mythical story about the phoenix. It said that in a town called Hai Zhou, phoenix was miraculously spotted at the top of a castle. Hundreds of birds flew towards the phoenix and then followed it in the northeast direction towards the Cangwu Mountain.
Initially, the saying of ‘Hundreds of birds paying respect toward the phoenix’ was a metaphor to imply peace under a wise ruler who was highly respected and worshiped. This saying was later used to refer people who is of noble character and high prestige.

All Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix

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The pattern of ‘bao xiang (宝相)’ is also called ‘bao lian (宝莲)’, ‘bao xian (宝仙)’, or ‘xi fan lian (西番莲)’, which literally means ‘western passion flower’.
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Related Motif:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/lotus-lian-hua/">Lotus 莲花</a>

Passion Flower

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Bats in Chinese is called bian fu (蝙蝠) or fu (蝠). The image of bats is often used to represent ‘good luck’ or ‘<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/good-fortune/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">good fortune</a>’ in Chinese decorative arts. It is not because the Chinese appreciate the appearance of bats, but because ‘蝠 fu’, the Chinese name for bats, happens to pun on ‘福 fu’ for ‘good fortune’, thus bearing an auspicious symbol.
Related Pun Pictures:
<a style="color: #3366ff;" href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/gourd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gourd 葫芦 </a>
<a style="color: #3366ff;" href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/may-you-enjoy-long-life-and-always-be-blessed-by-good-fortune/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May you enjoy long life and always be blessed by good fortune 福寿万年</a>

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Father&#8217;s Day was set up to honour fatherhood and secure paternal bonds. One very potent motif in the repertoire of traditional Chinese pictorial culture in this regard is the image of a magnificent brawny dragon facing a smaller young dragon in the background of cloud and waves. It symbolises the passing of knowledge and experience from one generation to another, which shows how the society and dominant ideology treasure the paternal advice.

Venerable dragon teaching his son

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The <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/osmanthus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">osmanthus </a>tree prominent in the Moon Palace came to be a symbol for elite talents in the Jin dynasty 晋朝 (265-420). In around Tang dynasty (618-907), ‘plucking a sprig of osmanthus blossom’ became a metaphor for ‘becoming a top contestant who passes the civil-service examinations with flying colours’. Since there was a famous osmanthus tree in the Moon Palace and <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/chang-e-the-moon-goddess/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chang’e the Moon Goddess</a> (嫦娥) was the perfectly presentable permanent resident there, she gradually evolved into the role of the osmanthus sprig giver. Just like the Greek goddess Nike who rewarded winning warriors with a wreath of laurel leaves, Chang’e with a small branch of osmanthus flowers symbolised academic success in imperial China. Thus, art works bearing images of Chang’e bestowing a sprig of osmanthus blossom to scholars have become suitable presents for those who sit for exams ever since.
literature research by Dr <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/about-us/dr-yibin-ni/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yibin Ni</a>
Related research article:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/blogs/culture-and-customs/the-legend-of-chang-e-the-moon-goddess-and-her-bestowing-osmanthus-blossom-to-scholars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The legend of Chang’e the Moon Goddess and her bestowing osmanthus blossom to scholars</a>

Plucking a Sprig of Osmanthus Blossom from the Moon Palace

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Book is a symbol of education or examinations.
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/peony/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peony</a> is a symbol of wealth and prestige.
The motif combination of book and peony sends a message to the receiver ‘You may become super rich by receiving good education!’
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Related Motif:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/two-horned-peony-blossom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two-horned peony blossom</a> 双犄牡丹
Related Pun Picture:                                 
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/may-you-couple-live-a-harmonious-life-and-enjoy-prestige/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May you couple live a harmonious life and enjoy prestige</a> 并蒂双贵

You may become rich by receiving good education

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During the Tang and Song dynasties, there were large dragon&#8211;<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/fish/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">carp</a> (鳌鱼) reliefs on the steps in front of the imperial palace. In the era of imperial examinations, the scholar who scored number one would stand on the head of the embossed giant to receive the announcement of the ranking. Therefore, the person who can make it and stand on the image of a dragon-carp head is considered as a champion. Later, the term ‘Standing on the Head of a Dragon-Carp’ is symbolic for ‘winning the first place in the competition’.
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Related Figures and Stories:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/god-of-literature/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">God of Literature</a> 魁星
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/when-the-god-of-literature-kicks-an-ink-vessel-you-are-blessed-to-be-the-only-one-who-can-stand-on-the-head-of-a-dragon-carp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When the God of Literature kicks an ink vessel, you are blessed to be the only one who can stand on the head of a dragon-carp.</a> 魁星踢斗,  独占鳌头
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Related Symbol:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/fish-turning-into-dragon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fish turning into dragon</a> 鱼化龙
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Related Pun Picture:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/you-will-certainly-come-out-first-in-the-imperial-examinations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">You will certainly come out first in the imperial examinations</a> 必定夺魁

Motifs & Symbols