Longevity

Shoulao (壽) is one of the most popular Chinese gods as he is the God of Longevity and his name is homophonous with the word for peaches, also a symbol of longevity. Longevity symbols are ubiquitous in Chinese art and everyday life, found within and outside dwellings, in paintings and prints, on textiles, clothing and jewelry among other items. Longevity was important to Confucians who believed wisdom comes with age and to Taoists who seek immortality. The most common symbols of longevity and the wish for a long life include butterflies, cats, coral, cranes, chrysanthemums, citron, deer, evergreens, fly whisk, lingzhi mushrooms, oxen, peaches, peonies, pine trees, rocks, roses, rabbits, storks, tigers and tortoises. The Taoist Queen Mother of the West and Amitabha Buddha are both associated with longevity. Lu Dongbin and his fly whisk, as well as the other seven Chinese Immortals and their personal identifying symbols are also longevity symbols.