The Chinese word fu translates as ‘blessing” or “happiness” and is everything auspicious. The Five Blessings or Happinesses (wufu) is the Chinese ideal life that includes longevity (寿), wealth (富), health (康宁), a love of virtue (修好德), and a peaceful death in old age (考 终命). Although marital happiness and producing a male to carry on the family name are also considered important blessings, they are not part of fu. The five (wu) wishes for blessings (fu) may also be represented by five bats (wufu) that is a Chinese homophone with fu as are plum blossoms as they have five petals seen as a symbol of the Five Blessings. Five bats represent good luck and are also a symbol of the Five Blessings or Happinesses.
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Ancestor figure portrayed as a civilian official standing on a rectangular base with hands together wearing a long civil official’s robe that extends to his shoes.
This exceptionally crafted and beautiful footed confection mould was most probably a marriage gift from a wealthy family to the newlyweds as seen its symbolisms. It is elaborated and ornately decorated in vibrant reds and gilt with auspicious symbols for fidelity, fertility and happiness with lotuses and pods filled with seeds, bats, paired fish and intertwined vines representing a life pair, having sons, and other marriage wishes.
This ancestor figure portrayed as a Chinese civilian official honors the family with his sign of high status. He grasps his official’s belt, his red robes symbolize fu for auspicious blessings. Unlike many serious officials he is approachable, with a smiling face.
Given the auspicious images on this finely crafted red and gilt jewelry box -a lotus and 5 bats surrounding a longevity roundel, it was probably a wedding gift for a fortunate couple as a wish for longevity, fertility, harmony and many and sons.
Fine ladies vanity cabinet covered with red lacquer and gold highlights. Parents’ gift to newlyweds with auspicious symbols for happiness, long life and having sons reflecting Confucian belief that producing sons to carry on the family name is essential to happiness.
Charming antique low profile lacquered finished chest adds warmth to any setting. Drawers with carved auspicious symbols for the Five Happinesses include peonies, vines, butterflies, plum blossom and a Japanese lily. Inset panel with florals and decorative apron and brass butterfly handles.
Parents often gave small red and gold carved cabinets as wedding gifts as a wish for the young couple to have many sons. The peony is a metaphor for female beauty and fertility, a willow represents spring – season of youth, new beginnings, optimism and fertility.
Carved ancestor figure as an official sits on a backless chair with a decorative pedestal in official’s attire holding a long slender curved hu-tablet, all signs of his office and status. He is vibrantly painted in red, the color of fu, as a wish for prosperity and status.
Pair of oil lamps for good fortune with diamond shaped double lozenge meaning many treasures, and plum blossoms, symboling the Five Happinesses – wealth, health, longevity, peaceful death and love of virtue.
Shiwan stoneware peaches and lotuses on footed bowl auspicious symbols associated with springtime, fertility, long healthy life for many generations and therefore are propitious gifts for birthdays, especially for the elderly.
Shiwan stoneware glazed sculptures of fruit symbolizing life and new beginnings to place on temple or home altar. They augment plates of fresh stacked fresh fruit to honor ancestors. These pears symbolize long life.
Chopsticks are ubiquitous in Chinese culture, and are often included in a bride’s dowry as a wish for a speedy arrival of many sons. This Shiwan ware green glazed wall pocket chopsticks holder has characters wishing for many sons and grandsons and an upside down bat holding a coin for “blessings in front of your eyes.”
Decorative utilitarian Shiwanware pieces are recognized for their fine modeling, vivid expression, and colorful apple-green and drip glazes. Chopsticks were commonly stored in wall pockets with a hole for mounting. Covered with auspicious symbols, they were often part of a bride’s dowry as “chopsticks” is a pun for “speedy arrival of sons.”
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