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An apricot grove, or field of apricots , is a symbol for success in the imperial examination system because the very first celebration honoring successful candidates allegedly took place in an apricot grove. The axe head is also one of the Twelve Imperial Symbols. In Buddhism , the axe symbolizes the destruction of evil. The axe can also refer to a marriage matchmaker. Bamboo symbolizes the ideals of a Confucian scholar because both are perceived as upright, strong and resilient while still being gentle, graceful and refined.
Bamboo also represents the ideals of the Taoists Daoists because it can bend during the worst weather but not break. The bamboo is a member of the Three Friends in Winter. Bamboo tallies, a type of token currency that circulated in parts of eastern China during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, are discussed in detail at Bamboo Tallies.
Therefore, if a person were to say "the bat is flying upside down" a listener could just as easily hear this as "happiness has arrived" which, of course, has a very auspicious connotation. Two bats facing each other mean double good fortune or happiness. Some charms display five bats which stand for the " Five Blessings ", namely longevity, wealth, health and composure, virtue, and the desire to die a natural death in old age. View five bat charm. Bats live in caves which represent portals to the beyond. See entry for pig below. See entry for citron below.
The butterfly also signifies joy and warmth. Since swords provide protection, hanging calamus above gates and doors is believed to help protect from evil spirits, disease and misfortune. The carp is also a symbol for an abundance of children because it produces many eggs. A pair of carp symbolizes a harmonious marriage. A frequently seen image is of a carp swimming and leaping against the current of a river to reach the spawning grounds. This is an allegory for the persistent effort needed to overcome obstacles. See a carp fish charm at Fish Charms. The carp used for medicine was the quest in a famous story of Wang Xiang and filial piety.
Additional information can be found at the entry for fish below. The cassia is an evergreen plant with bright yellow flowers that is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Chinese cinnamon. Cassia and peaches together represent "high rank" and "longevity". Cassia and seeds lotus , pomegranate , gourd together expresses the desire for many sons who will achieve high office. The cassia represents success in the imperial examination system which is explained in detail at Auspicious Inscriptions. See also "Cassia and Orchid" Charm. A symbol that resembles an "X" is sometimes found on Chinese charms.
This is actually a pair of wooden clappers or castanets crossed one over the other. Depending upon rank, these tablets were made of jade, ivory, bamboo and shark's skin, or bamboo and jade. A charm displaying a pair of castanets or yin yang ban may be seen at Auspicious Inscriptions. The cat is also the protector of silkworms because it can ward off and kill mice and rats which attack these producers of silk thread. See the cat at The Five Poisons. The Chinese refer to the eight-sided holes found on many Tang and Song Dynasty coins as flower or chestnut holes. Each chime stone was flat and shaped similar to a chevron.
A small hole at the top center allowed the stone to be hung from a frame. The musical instrument consisted of a set of 8 to 24 of these chime stones with each tuned to a different pitch.
When struck with a mallet the chime stone produced a musical sound. Since many chime stones were made of jade, the chime stone also symbolizes wealth and riches. The chime stone is also considered one of the Eight Treasures. See a charm displaying a chime stone at Auspicious Inscriptions. The chrysanthemum signifies the tenth month of the lunar calendar.
The chrysanthemum, one of the Four Gentlemen , blooms late and in facing the winter symbolizes people who maintain their virtue despite adversity and temptation. See the chrysanthemum symbol on an unusual charm at Chinese Boy Charms. The cicada is a symbol of rebirth and immortality because after surviving underground for a long period of time it emerges and flies into the sky. Citron or Buddha's Hand. The citron is a bright yellow lemon-like fruit with a thick rind and long finger-like tendrils.
The citron is one of the " Three Abundances " Three Plenties. Its form often resembles the auspicious shape of the lingzhi "fungus of immortality". The cloud is a commonly seen design and when repeated in a pattern symbolizes never-ending fortune. For a comprehensive discussion of the relationship of the cloud, dragon, star, and moon symbols please visit Charm Symbols: Star, Moon, Cloud and Dragon. Auspicious clouds may be seen on coins and charms at the following: Chinese coins are a potent symbol of wealth and prosperity.
The coin is one of the " Eight Treasures ". Ancient Chinese coins are round with a square hole in the middle which reflects the Chinese view of the earth as square and the heavens as a circle. See a charm incorporating a "pair of coins" as a visual pun or rebus at Bagua Charms. For a history, including images, of ancient Chinese coins and other forms of money please visit Chinese Coins. Red coral is considered particularly auspicious because the Chinese believe the color red signifies good luck, good fortune, and happiness.
See ribbons and fillets for more about the color red. Coral resembles deer antlers and deer are symbols of longevity. Coral is also a symbol of official promotion because a coral button on the hat identified one of the nine grades of government officials. The crab is also used to symbolize success in the imperial examination system. An example of a charm depicting a crab with this hidden meaning can be seen at Eight Treasures. The crane's white feathers also represent old age.
A crane standing alone can represent success in becoming a high government official as seen on a charm at Pendant Charms. Myths describe spirits and immortals as riding on cranes. The souls of the dead are said to be carried to the heavens by cranes. The image of the crane was embroidered on the robes of high government officials. Nowadays, the "crane" is humorously referred to as the "national bird of China". In this case, however, the "crane" refers to the large machines used to lift heavy objects to the top of buildings as part of China's major construction boom!
Cypress leaves were used in traditional Chinese weddings.
For this reason, dates were placed on bridal beds and the wood of the date tree was used to construct beds for children. Deer are among the most frequently seen animals on charms. A picture of a deer is therefore expressing a wish for a top government office with a high salary. The Chinese believe the deer lives to a very great age and, as a result, has become a symbol for long life. The deer is traditionally believed to be the only animal able to find the magical lingzhi fungus of immortality.
The deer is often seen by the side of Shou, the God of Longevity. The deer often is used as a verbal pun to refer to the God of Prosperity which has the same pronunciation lu. The deer as a symbol used on charms may be seen at the following: The Door Gods are images of two warriors, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, which are hung on gates or doors to protect against evil spirits and misfortune. See Peach Charms for more information on the Door Gods. The dragon is believed to live in the mountains or in the seas and can fly into the heavens.
Unlike the dragons of Europe, the Chinese dragon symbolizes benevolence, prosperity, longevity and the renewal of life. Ancient Chinese believed the dragon brought rain, good harvests and fertility. The dragon is the symbol of the emperor when it has five claws. The dragon is yang and associated with the east and spring. Conjoined dragon and phoenix represent the union of a man and a woman.
For a more detailed discussion of the dragon symbol please see yinyang and the five elements as the basis for star, moon, cloud and dragon symbols. Dragon charms with two dragons may be seen at: Open Work Charms and Auspicious Inscriptions. Charms with a dragon and phoenix may be seen at: Marriage Charms and Auspicious Inscriptions.
The dragonfly also symbolizes the season of summer. Chinese dumplings with meat or vegetable stuffing symbolize wealth or riches because they are boat-shaped and thus resemble the silver ingots or sycee used in ancient China as money. Ancient Chinese placed actual coins in dumplings with the wish that whoever found the coins would enjoy prosperity and good luck. Dumplings stuffed with dates express a hope for the "early" birth of sons. Dumplings resemble the crescent moon and a wish for a year of abundance.
See also entry for bear above. See entry for heron below. He also carries a fly whisk which he uses to walk on clouds, fly to heaven, and sweep away ignorance. See Lu Dongbin Charm.
She is known for her filial devotion, ability to resolve domestic disputes and is seen as the patron of household management. He represents youth and is seen as the patron of fortune-tellers. How he became an immortal is described in the Ming Dynasty novel " Journey to the West ". The most commonly seen members of the Eight Treasures include the coin , ruyi sceptre , coral , chime stone , lozenge , rhinoceros horn , silver ingot and the flaming pearl.
Ancient "elephant chess" pieces may be seen at " Old Chinese Chess Pieces ". The fish symbol is, therefore, frequently associated with other symbols and Chinese characters to symbolize the wish for "more" in the sense of "more" good luck, good fortune, long life and children. Because of its reproductive abilities, the fish also represents fertility in marriage.
While fish charms are fairly common, it is rare to find a fish symbol on a real Chinese coin although one can be seen at Ancient Chinese Coins with Charm Features. See carp for additional information on the fish symbol. Five Blessings Happinesses, Good Fortunes. A charm with an inscription referring to the "Five Blessings" may be seen at Auspicious Inscriptions. Sometimes, the lizard replaces the spider. The " three-legged toad " is frequently included as one of the five. The Chinese believe the five poisons counteract pernicious influences by combating poison with poison.
The fly whisk is a simple tool used to swat or sweep away flies.
The "fly whisk" became a symbol associated with certain Daoist Taoist immortals and Buddhist deities which was used to "sweep away" ignorance. Lu Dongbin and He Xianghu, both members of the Eight Immortals , are frequently depicted as carrying a fly whisk. See also entries for " Tortoise " and " Snake " below A coin displaying the four directions and the 28 mansions associated with the Four Divine Creatures may be seen at Chinese Astronomy Coins.
Four Gentlemen or Four Plants of Virtue. Each of these plants represents one of the seasons. The orchid represents spring. The bamboo represents summer. The chrysanthemum represents autumn and the plum represents winter. The four plants together represent a year. The plum and bamboo together signify friendship.
A picture of two boys joined in a clever way to give the illusion that there are four boys. This "good luck" picture is frequently given to newlyweds with the wish that they will have many children.
The story and history is explained at " Four Happiness Boys ". See also entry for toad. Fungus Lingzhi Fungus of Immortality. The lingzhi does not decay like other fungus but instead becomes woody and thus can survive for a long time.
For this reason, it has become associated with longevity. It was also believed to grow on the "Three Islands of the Immortals" where immortals lived. Deer are reputed to be the only animals able to find lingzhi. Deer and crane are sometimes shown holding the lingzhi in their mouth. To see a charm depicting the lingzhi , deer and pine, please visit Pendant Charms. The goat is a reference to an ancient myth, discussed at Five Goat Coin , concerning a great famine in Guangzhou Canton , Guangdong Province.
Please also see entry for sheep below. God of Examinations Star of Literature. He was considered to have been influential in helping candidates pass the imperial civil service examinations. He is depicted as an ugly man sometimes as a dwarf with short horns, and holding a writing brush in his right hand and a scholar's hat or peck measure in his left.
The horns on his head represent success by alluding to the analogy of the carp fish jumping over the mythical Dragon Gate and turning into a dragon. God of Longevity Shou. As his name implies, Shou symbolizes a long life. Longevity was important to Confucians because they believed that wisdom came with age. Longevity was important to Taoists Daoists because of their quest for immortality. See also Lock Charms. He is a member of the Three Officials , also known as the Three Immortals.
Please see the four character charm at Auspicious Inscriptions. God of Thunder Lei Gong. He uses a drum to create thunder. Lei Gong is portrayed as being half eagle, with wings and a beak, and half human. Many Daoist charms seek the assistance of the God of Thunder in expelling evil influences and spirits, and bringing good fortune. The God of War fights evil and is usually shown carrying a large broadsword. A Qing Ch'ing Dynasty coin is believed to provide protection from evil because one of the Manchu characters in its inscription resembles the broadsword of the God of War.
God of Wealth Cai Shen. He is depicted with a long beard and wearing either an official's gown or military dress. He is usually shown holding or being surrounded by symbols of wealth such as coins, ingots, coral, etc. He is often shown holding a sword in his right hand raised above his head and wearing a distinctive hat with ear flaps. He is sometimes depicted as riding a black tiger. A bamboo tally with an image of Cai Shen may be seen at Bamboo Tallies. Gods of Peace and Harmony Hehe erxian.
The shock and awe still with me. Living in secluded rest, meditating and working on the mind finding thoughts of peace, love and wisdom is the fastes path to inner peace and happiness. Either gameshark it or use the ingame password system. Those who sacrifices their ego and are connected with the enlightened Masters God , can go optimistic and with trust through all times of change. The land of light is our goal. To a shore where men killed each other on purpose. Playing cards may have been invented during the Tang dynasty around the 9th century AD as a result of the usage of woodblock printing technology.
They represent harmony and mirth and bestow blessings on marriages. See entry for fish above. Because the gourd contains many seeds, the Chinese associate the gourd with "10, children". In ancient China, parents hoped for many sons and grandsons so the gourd became an important symbol for a family with many children. Additional information is provided at gourd charms. A halberd is a visual pun or rebus for "lucky" as can be see on an old seal script charm at Auspicious Inscriptions.
The horse is usually depicted as the bearer of good things. For example, a galloping horse with several scrolls the Yellow River Diagrams tied on its back represents the bringing of the origins of Chinese culture to the legendary Chinese leader Fuxi. The horse can be a symbol for the Mongols Yuan Dynasty because their culture is strongly associated with the horse. Please see Ancient Chinese Horse Coins for additional information.
Please see The Chinese House for a more detailed discussion of Zaojun. The role of Prince Dokado was initially offered to Hu Jun , who rejected it for reasons unknown. It was later offered to Wang Xueqi , who similarly turned down the offer. The role eventually went to Michael Wong.
Cheung Chi-sing, the production manager and scriptwriter, revealed that the initial cut made by Angie Lam was four hours long. However, the distributors were worried that such a lengthy running time would limit screening arrangements and affect box office performance, so Tsui Hark re-edited it to two versions — minutes and minutes.
After finding that the minutes version suffered from underdevelopment, the investors chose the minutes version for the theatrical run. Tsui Hark intended Seven Swords to be a hexalogy , but the prospects for the second instalment have not come to fruition. Tsui is purportedly working on scripts for the second and third instalments of the film to complete the hexalogy in successive development and production.
As of , there have been no news of Seven Swords at all, and there is speculation that it would not be completed as planned. The last known news about the film was in its pre-production phase between and , yet neither Tsui Hark nor anyone attached to the film made any statement of commitment to the planned hexalogy for about 3—4 years. While unconfirmed, it is believed the project has stalled or been abandoned due to lack of interest in completing the story. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Seven Swords Theatrical poster. Donnie Yen as Chu Zhaonan, the wielder of the Dragon. Leon Lai as Yang Yuncong, the wielder of the Transience. Lau Kar-leung as Fu Qingzhu, the wielder of the Unlearnt. Lu Yi as Han Zhibang, the wielder of the Deity. Duncan Chow as Mulang, the wielder of the Celestial Beam. Sun Honglei as Fire-Wind, a warlord. Ma Jingwu as Shadow-Glow, a reclusive swordsman and sword forger. Michael Wong as Prince Dokado, a Manchu noble.
Jason Pai as Liu Jingyi, the village chief. Chi Kuan-chun as Qiu Dongluo, the spy. Huang Peng as Guan Sandao, a villager. Zhang Chao as Zhang Huazhao, a villager. Chen Jiajia as Kualo, Fire-Wind's follower. Liu Mingzhe as Jiaoci, Fire-Wind's follower. Li Haitao as Siyilang, Fire-Wind's follower. Jiang Guangjin as Sanzi, Fire-Wind's follower. Lin Haibin as Sangen, Fire-Wind's follower. Jia Kun as Bangmuzi, Fire-Wind's follower. This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
January Learn how and when to remove this template message. Films directed by Tsui Hark. The Four Heavenly Kings The Banquet Twin Dragons Triangle Retrieved from " https: