Chinese Antique Furniture

Chinese Antique Furniture

Symbols in Chinese Antique Furniture
By J. D. Rogers - Ezinearticles

Those that have a love for Chinese art and antiques are surely attracted to the items based on their beautiful visual appearance. While the shape and style of the antiques certainly add to their aesthetic value, the symbols engraved into the items are also visually alluring as they are truly eye catching. While some may acknowledge the visual beauty of these symbols, they may not have much knowledge in terms of what these symbols represent and what they mean. For those that are curious about the meaning behind these symbols, the following is a brief overview:

Gods: To say that there are a great many ancient gods in Chinese cultural history and many of them are represented in the symbols carved or drawn in the antiques. Since Chinese history dates back to the year 3,000 BC, it is no surprise that many of the gods and goddesses represented in the symbols are linked to the many different cultural aspects of human behavior over the years. That is why the depiction of these gods is heavily influenced by emotions. There is a top tier of gods known as the Stellar Triad and a second tier known as the 8 Immortals. Their appearances in antiques and art are quite frequent. Some of the gods and their representation include: Hexiangu (Marriage), Lu Dongbin (Liberator of greed and lust), Zaojun (Harmony in the household), Xi (joy), and many others.

Animals: Since a great deal of Chinese cultural history entails the study of the natural world, it is no surprise that scores of animals are represented in antiques as well. The imagery of the animals includes bats (good luck), monkeys (human spirit), turtles (immortality), and various other indigenous creatures of the region. Each and every animal is connected to a specific trait in a manner no different than how gods are depicted.

Flowers, Fruits, and Vegetables: this would seem like several different categories but they are really a collective of the representation of nature that is uniquely presented in the ancient symbolism of the art and antiques. While many of these symbols are varied, a number of them have the same meaning because - as mentioned - they are tied back to the representation of the singular entity of nature. For example, bamboo, pine, and mushrooms along with various other items all represent longevity. And longevity is, of course, linked heavily to the natural world. Other common representations include wealth (flowers), progeny (lotus), and joy (peach).

There are other miscellaneous symbols that make their way into the antiques and artwork of China. Coins (wealth), water ripples (also wealth), fans (goodness), and the simple vase (peace) are all common symbols that are prevalent. Of course, there are more and their symbolism stretches many different meanings.

The inclusion of symbols on Chinese antiques is certainly appreciated since they truly add a brilliant visual component to the antiques which adds to their aesthetic value. This is why their inclusion is so welcome and increases the popularity of the items to a great degree.

Chinese Antique Furniture