Symbols of the Chinese Zodiac
12 Animals symbolize the Chinese zodiac. They originated as 12 mythical creatures who came down from the heavens to celebrate the coming of spring. They have each become a unique animal symbol representing the year in which you were born in the Chinese horoscope. The animal symbols exist on a 12-year cycle and also include one of the Chinese 5 Elements: earth, wood, fire, water, and metal. Dragon: Strong, independent, and a great leader. Snake: Wise, fiery temper, physical beauty. Horse: Popular, impatient, warm-hearted, enthusiastic. Goat: Timid, elegant, creative, passionate. Monkey: Intelligent, mischievous, a quick learner. Rooster: Devoted to work, a thirst for knowledge, selfish, eccentric. Dog: Loyal, honest, stubborn, can be lazy. Pig: Noble, considerate, sincere, genuine; symbol of luck and wealth. Rat: Ambitious and honest. Ox: Bright, patient, and inspiring to others. Tiger: Aggressive, courageous, honest, sensitive. Rabbit: Talented, articulate, affectionate, shy; the luckiest of the symbols.
Chinese Symbols of Peace
He ping The Mandarin symbol for peace indicates peace and safety. Chinese tradition includes this symbol as a favorite to keep in a household to keep peace and safety within. It’s sometimes referred to as the Asian symbol of peace due to its popularity in multiple Asian countries.
Yin-Yang The yin-yang symbol is a potent Taoist concept that stands for opposing forces. Also called taiji, it illustrates the interdependence between light and dark, day and night, male and female. These opposites come together in the famous black-and-white symbol that can show you that balance is the key to everything in life.
Vase A vase (called a ping) is a Chinese symbol of peace. It appears in many Chinese households as a porcelain vase given to someone to wish them peace. A vase depicting an image of flowers from all 4 seasons wishes for “peace in all seasons.” During Chinese New Year, if a vase is broken, it means “peace and safety for every year,” so it is considered a good omen.
Lily Lilies (baihe) represent purity and the innocence of the human spirit. They stand for both the unity of spirits and 100 years' worth of love. Its name means “one hundred together” and is also considered a wedding symbol that stands for harmony and unity.
Clouds The auspicious clouds are a symbol of holiness and blessings. They appear in everything from Chinese paintings and artwork to household objects and clothing. These unique cloud symbols are also used in Buddhist ritual costumes because of their symbolic power for peace.
Chinese Symbols of Love
Love The Chinese word for love appears as ài. It is pronounced “eye” and can be paired with other Chinese symbols to express variations on the theme of love. For example, the phrase “wǒ ài nǐ” means “I love you.” Many other Chinese symbols also stand for love throughout the centuries. Double happiness The xǐ symbol (pronounced “see”) represents the happiness and love between a couple. It’s often used in Chinese weddings as a symbol of joy for the couple being wed. The double happiness symbol is embodied by the color red to signal both passion and love. Phoenix The Chinese Phoenix is a symbol of love, beauty, prosperity, and peace. It carries the 5 Elements in its feathers and is one of the 4 celestial animals. These 5 elements include virtue, courtesy, benevolence, righteousness, and faith. The phoenix is a powerful symbol that is also known as the Fenghuang. Mandarin Duck The Mandarin duck are symbols of marital love in China. They appear in nature as a pair who cannot be separated easily. The Chinese word for Mandarin ducks is yuān yāng, to stand for both the male and female of the pair. They’re also often used as an image for wedding, window, and New Year decorations. Love pea This small Chinese symbol stands for love and missing someone. The love pea is a red bean that is shaped like a heart. Its name is xiāng sī dòu and is based on a story of a woman who cried for her long lost husband under a tree. Her tears turned the tree’s berries red and heart-shaped. The love pea often appears on pieces of jewelry you give to a person you love and miss a lot.
Chinese Symbols of Strength
Dragons Chinese dragons are known for their strength, bravery, and intelligence. In the natural world, they are in charge of wind, thunder, and rain. They also look after rivers, seas, and lakes on earth. Many different dragons exist in Chinese culture; each has its own unique qualities. Ying-Long The Dragon of Earth and Power represents the Earth and the Five Elements. It’s called Ying-Long and controls the wind and rain and appears as a yellow dragon with 5 claws. The Ying-Long dragon has been used as an imperial symbol of Chinese emperors throughout history. Zhu Long The Dragon of Time and Season symbolizes the transformation of time and weather. It’s also called the Dragon of Zhu and appears with a red snake’s body and a human head. Zhu Long doesn’t eat or sleep, but ushers in the day by opening his eyes and brings night when he closes them. Chi Long The Dragon of Protection and Auspiciousness is a symbol of luck, happiness, love, and career. It appears as a hornless animal from the sea and lives closer to people than other mythical dragons, so is often depicted on accessories, clothing, and decor. Jiao Long The Dragon of Transformation and Challenge signals the final thunder test which turns ordinary dragons into immortal ones. It appears to be a half-snake/half-dragon that can swim underwater. Pan Long The Dragon of Coils brings rain when it’s needed. It has black coiled scales and lives both on the ground and in the sea. Chinese buildings often have pillars that depict Pan Long to protect those inside from injury.
Qílín The Qílín is known as the happiest and luckiest of mythical creatures. It left a book of jade that declared the Qílín to be the reincarnation of the son of the God of Water. It has an elk’s body, a lion’s head, a deer’s horn, a tiger’s eyes, and an ox’s tail.
Tiger The Chinese tiger is a sign of bravery. Known as Hu, tigers were given as paintings from one soldier to another as a sign of respect. Different army regimes were also known to wear painted tiger uniforms and place tiger emblems on their shields before the battle.
Xiezhi The Ziezhi stands for justice. It appears as a cattle or sheep with a prominent horn on its forehead. It’s said to look similar to the Qílín but has a very different role among Chinese symbolic creatures. Xiezhi is capable of intervening in disputes and is a protector of the innocent.
Lion Lions represent strength and can ward off negative energy. They can also provide peace and calm to those who need it most. Guardian lions regularly appear in pairs at the entrance of official government buildings in China. Called “stone lions,” their purpose is to protect the lives of those living or working inside.
Peng Bird The Chinese Péng Niǎo is a mythical bird symbolizing rapid advancement. It’s known for its massive wing span and was created out of a giant kunfish. The peng bird also appears in the Chinese work, “The Divine Classic of Nanhua.”
Black Tortoise The black tortoise acts as a connector of earthly and heavenly realms. It is called Xuanwu and is one of the Chinese 4 symbols, which include the Azure Dragon, the Vermillion Bird, and the White Tiger. The black tortoise represents the season of winter and appears as a serpent coiled around a turtle.
Chinese Symbols of Good Luck & Prosperity
Pinyin Pinyin symbolizes a year of good luck, prosperity, and happiness. It’s also called the fu symbol and is commonly hung on a front door during New Year and the Chinese Spring Festival. This tradition began during the Zhou dynasty to keep the Goddess of Poverty away from your home. It appears with black ink on red paper to help attract positive energy.
Golden Cat A lucky or golden cat can transform evil into good. They’re considered a feng shui symbol of good luck, abundance, and protection. Cats often appear as a bad luck omen in Chinese mythology unless they’re a Golden cat.
Magpie Magpies signal joy, happiness, and good fortune. They’re an important part of the Chinese tale of Zhinu and Niulan when a bridge of magpies brought two lovers together on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. They’re called què in Chinese and appear in good luck decorations or wedding decorations in pairs.
Panda Pandas are associated with harmony, peace, and friendship. Their black and white fur symbolizes the idea of yin and yang or opposites in balance. Pandas are also used as a sign of goodwill to other countries in international diplomacy. They are said to bring good fortune since they were sent to Earth to protect humankind.
Peach Peaches are associated with luck, immortality, and longevity. They’re also called “fairy fruit” because of their connection to Taoist deities like the Queen Mother of the West. Peaches are used in Chinese traditional medicine to cure multiple diseases, while its wood branches are said to keep away evil spirits.
Chinese Knot The Chinese knot represents good luck, blessings, and prayers. It’s made up of unbroken lines that form a knot which illustrates the cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth. The knot is often given as a gift between family or friends and can appear as decoration in a Chinese household.
Jade Green jade is a Chinese symbol for luck, harmony, eternity, and virtue. It was used as a good luck talisman for the dead, with jade pig figurines even placed into the hands of those who died. The 5 virtues of jade have been listed as charity, rectitude, wisdom, courage, and equity.
Chinese Tattoos Symbols and Meanings
Dragon Dragons are a powerful symbol of strength and courage. There are multiple Chinese dragon images to choose from, with some representing everything from intelligence to being symbols of protection and transformation. The color you decide on also affects the tattoo’s meaning, with a red dragon for luck, a yellow dragon for wealth, and a blue dragon for harmony.
Tiger Tigers are one of the strongest signs of the Chinese zodiac. They’re also associated with bravery and the military, which makes them a great tattoo choice if you have connections yourself. They’re also signs of dignity, ferocity, and are protectors of the dead on their journey.
Butterflies Butterflies symbolize love, romance, freedom, and beauty. They’re also featured in the Chinese folktale “the butterfly lovers,” where they represent eternal happiness. They’re considered messengers of good news and are a bold way to show everyone how much you believe in these traditional Chinese meanings.
Plum Blossoms Plum blossoms (meihua) represent inner beauty and modesty in adversity. As one of the most beloved flowers in China, their petals are considered one of the 5 Blessings (happiness, fortune, longevity, joy, and wealth), as well as the “flowers of the 4 seasons” and the “3 friends of winter.” Their bright pink petals are an incredibly feminine symbol for strength and perseverance as your next tattoo.
Peacock Peacocks signify beauty, rebirth, and wealth. They’re also a symbol for the Chinese Ming dynasty, along with Guan Yin, the goddess of compassion. A tattoo that boasts a peacock’s 100 eyed tail is a stunning and colorful way to show your love for Chinese symbols and meanings.
Lotus Flower The lotus flower (called hé huā) symbolizes strength and resilience against adversity. This is due to how it grows from the mud at the bottom of a pond and still manages to rise to the surface. The lotus flower tattoo is a powerful image to choose because it can show the world you can conquer anything that comes your way.
Chinese Symbols in Nature
Bamboo Bamboo (zhú zi) stands for strength, flexibility, and resilience. Its ability to bend without breaking is a symbol of adaptability in any difficult situation. Bamboo is also associated with both integrity and tenacity as a powerful element in nature.
Flowers Flowers symbolize virtues, emotions, and natural elements. Peonies stand for prosperity, while Chrysanthemums are connected to autumn and orchids stand for beauty and elegance. The color of flowers is also an important part of what they symbolize; red flowers bring luck and happiness, while pink flowers signal romance and friendship. Yellow flowers are considered positive, but white flowers are reserved for death and mourning.
Bat Bats are a symbol of good fortune in China. They can also signal sex and death, but are considered good luck. The spiritual meaning of bats includes the 5 bats of happiness (wu fu), which symbolize the 5 blessings of life. These blessings include longevity, wealth, health, love and a natural death.
Carp The carp is a fish that symbolizes good business. It’s sometimes depicted alongside a dragon to illustrate the old saying “carp jumping over the dragon’s door.” The carp is used as a symbol for congratulating someone with talent as you wish them a hopeful future.
Crane The crane signals longevity and human wisdom. They are most known for carrying dead souls to heaven in Chinese tradition. Cranes appear in paintings in flight to reflect an elevation in status.
Deer The deer is a symbol of both longevity and prosperity. They’re known to accompany Shoulao, the Chinese god of longevity. Deer are considered the only animal in the natural world to find the sacred fungus of immortality.
Elephant The elephant represents high moral value. Due to their immense size, they also stand for both strength and intelligence. They often appear in talismans that are said to bring good luck and fortune to those who carry them.
Fish Fish (yu) are symbols of wealth and prosperity. Its name signals abundance, which is reflected by the number of fish in the sea. When fish appear in a pair, they can represent both happiness and fertility, especially for a married couple.
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