The Chinese dragon,also loong,is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology,Chinese folklore,and Chinese culture at large. Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish,but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. Academicians have identified four reliable theories on the origin of the Chinese dragon:snakes,Chinese alligators,thunder worship and nature worship. They traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers,particularly control over water.
Chinese mythology is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature throughout the area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology encompasses a diverse array of myths derived from regional and cultural traditions. Populated with engaging narratives featuring extraordinary individuals and beings endowed with magical powers,these stories often unfold in fantastical mythological realms or historical epochs. Similar to numerous other mythologies,Chinese mythology has historically been regarded,at least partially,as a factual record of the past.
The three-leggedcrow is a mythological creature in various mythologies and arts of East Asia. It is believed to inhabit and represent the Sun.
Pixiu is a Chinese mythical hybrid creature. Pixiu are considered powerful protectors of the souls of the dead,xian,and feng shui practitioners,and resemble strong,winged lions. A Pixiu is an earth and sea variation,particularly an influential and auspicious creature for wealth,and is said to have a voracious appetite exclusively for gold,silver,and jewels. Therefore,traditionally to the Chinese,Pixiu have always been regarded as auspicious creatures that possessed mystical powers capable of drawing cai qi from all directions,and according to the Chinese zodiac,it is especially helpful for those who are going through a bad year.
Feilian or (蜚廉) is a Chinese wind spirit from a southern tradition,later identified with and subsumed under the primary wind deity Fengbo. Feilian has also been identified with a late Shang dynasty minister as well as with the mythical phoenix bird,and retained a separate identity as a mythical creature after losing its status as master of the wind.
The Four Symbols are mythological creatures appearing among the Chinese constellations along the ecliptic,and viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions. These four creatures are also referred to by a variety of other names,including "Four Guardians","Four Gods",and "Four Auspicious Beasts". They are the Azure Dragon of the East,the Vermilion Bird of the South,the White Tiger of the West,and the Black Tortoise of the North. Each of the creatures is most closely associated with a cardinal direction and a color,but also additionally represents other aspects,including a season of the year,an emotion,virtue,and one of the Chinese "five elements". Each has been given its own individual traits,origin story and a reason for being. Symbolically,and as part of spiritual and religious belief and meaning,these creatures have been culturally important across countries in the Sinosphere.
The Vermilion Bird is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. According to Wu Xing,the Taoist five elemental system,it represents the Fire element,the direction south,and the season of summer correspondingly. Thus it is sometimes called the Vermilion Bird of the South. It is described as a red bird that resembles a pheasant with a five-colored plumage and is perpetually covered in flames. It is known as Suzaku in Japanese,Jujak in Korean and Chu Tước in Vietnamese.
Otori,also transliterated Ootori and Ohtori is a Japanese word meaning "large bird," "a key performer," or a Japanese name.
The Four Holy Beasts are Chinese astronomical and cultural Four Benevolent Animals that are spread in the East Asian cultural sphere. They are mentioned in the Chinese classic Book of Rites and includes the Dragon (龍) in the East,the Qilin (麟) in the West,the Turtle (龜) in the North,and the Phoenix (鳳) in the South.
Fengguan,also known as phoenix coronet or phoenix hat,is a type of guan for women in Hanfu. It was worn mainly by noblewomen for ceremonies or official occasions. It is also traditional headgear for brides and could be worn in set of Traditional Chinese wedding dress attire,such as the fengguan xiapei.
The Twelve Ornaments are a group of ancient Chinese symbols and designs that are considered highly auspicious. They were employed in the decoration of textile fabrics in ancient China,which signified authority and power,and were embroidered on vestments of state.
The Twelve Symbols national emblem was the state emblem of the Empire of China and the Republic of China from 1913 to 1928. It was based on the ancient Chinese symbols of the Twelve Ornaments.
The Zhengde Tongbao is a fantasy cash coin,Chinese,and Vietnamese numismatic charm bearing an inscription based on the reign title of the Zhengde Emperor of the Ming dynasty. The Zhengde Emperor reigned from the year 1505 until 1521,however during this period no circulating cash coins were minted. There were a large amount "cash coins" bearing the Zhengde era name are minted from the late Ming to early Qing dynasty periods as superstitious "lucky coins" with auspicious depictions and instructions,as this inscription remained popular for charms modern reproductions of the Zhengde Tongbao are also very common.
Open-work charms are a type of Chinese,Japanese,Korean,and Vietnamese numismatic charms characterised by irregularly shaped "holes" or "openings" between their design elements known as openwork. The design of the amulets represent yin while the holes represent yang and their general purpose was to attract good fortune and ward off evil spirits and misfortune. Unlike most other types of Chinese numismatic charms which usually tend to have square center holes if they’re holed,open-work charms tend to almost exclusively have round center holes though open-work charms with square center holes are known to exist and certain thematic open-work charms that feature human-made constructions mostly told to have square holes. Another distinctive feature of open-work charms is that they’re almost purely based on illustrative imagery and only a small minority of them contain legends written in Hanzi characters. While most other forms of Chinese numismatic charms are made from brass open-work charms are predominantly made from bronze.
Luan,also known as luanniao,is a mythological bird in East Asian mythology. The name is sometimes reserved for males,while female luan are called Jīnjī. The luan is sometimes referred as simurgh by western sinologists when they translate the Chinese term luan;however,they do not refer to the same bird creature and is therefore an inappropriate translation of the term. It is also sometimes inappropriately translated as roc and phoenix. The luan is one of the birds which have been deified in ancient China. It is also sometimes confused with the fenghuang by western scholars.
Marriage coin charms are a category of Chinese,Japanese,Korean,and Vietnamese numismatic charms that depict marriage,harmonious,and/or sexual imagery. These coin charms often imitate the design of Chinese cash coins,but can exist in many different shapes and sizes.
'Ji;pinyin:Jī),Zanzi or Zan;pinyin:Zānzi or zān) for short) and Chai(Chinese:钗);pinyin:Chāi) are generic terms for hairpin in China. 'Ji' is also the term used for hairpins of the Qin dynasty. The earliest form of Chinese hair stick was found in the Neolithic Hemudu culture relics;the hair stick was called Ji;pinyin:Jī),and were made from bones,horns,stones,and jade.
Chinese auspicious ornaments in textile and clothing refers to any form of Chinese auspicious ornaments,which are used to decorate various forms of Chinese textile and clothing,fashion accessories,and footwear in China since the ancient times. Chinese auspicious ornaments form part of Chinese culture and hold symbolic meanings. In ancient China,auspicious ornaments were often either embroidered or woven into textile and clothing. They are also used on religious and ritual clothing and in Xifu,Chinese opera costumes. Auspicious symbols and motifs continue to be used in present-day China in industries,such as home textiles and clothing;they are also used in modern design packaging and interior design. Some of these Chinese auspicious ornaments were also adopted by European countries during the era of Chinoiserie,where they became decorative patterns on fashionable chinoiserie fashion and textiles.
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