Chinese Folk Art, Festivals, and Symbolism in Everyday Life
Chinese Folk Art, Festivals, and Symbolism in Everyday Life
Chinese Folk Art, Festivals, and Symbolism in Everyday Life
and Symbolism in
Everyday Life
Funded by the Berkeley East Asia National Resource Center through its
Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Special thanks to Ching-chih Lin, for his extraordinary contributions to this teaching guide and the Taipei
Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco for its generous print and electronic media contributions.
Copyright © 2005. Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology and the Regents of the University of California.
All rights reserved. 103 Kroeber Hall. #3712, Berkeley CA 94720
All images with captions followed by catalog numbers in this guide are from the collections of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of
Anthropology. All PAHMA objects from Beijing and Nanking are from the museum's Ilse Martin Fang Chinese Folklore Collection.
The collection was assembled primarily in Beijing between 1941 and 1946, while Ms. Fang was a postdoctoral fellow at the
Deutschland Institute working in folklore and women's studies.
PHOEBE A. HEARST MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY
CHINA
The People’s Republic of China is the third largest country in
the world, after Russia and Canada. It is slightly larger than the
United States and includes Hong Kong and Macau. China is
located in East Asia. The capital city is Beijing, which is in the
northeast part of the country. China is a country of great
geographical contrasts. There are grasslands in Inner Mongolia,
snowy mountains in Tibet, and wide plains in the Gobi Desert.
Throughout different time periods in China’s history, many Chinese have emigrated from China to other parts of the world
due to various economic or political circumstances. Today, Chinese populations exist in North America, Southeast Asia,
Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, and Russia. Over 1.6 million Chinese live in the United States,
making it the largest Chinese population outside of Asia.
TAIWAN
Taiwan is a subtropical island consisting of rugged
mountains and flat to gently rolling plains. The island
is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, located off China’s
southeast coast. The capital of Taiwan is Taipei. Taiwan
is a democratic society and the official language is
Mandarin. Until the mid 17th century only indigenous
peoples lived on the island of Taiwan. Indigenous
populations still exist in Taiwan; however, they only make
up about two percent of the total population. Today, more
than 23 million people inhabit the island; the majority of
these people are Han Chinese originating from mainland
China. Many traditional Chinese beliefs and customs were
brought from China and are very much a part of life in
Taiwan today.
SYMBOLISM
Symbolism is present throughout all cultures. Symbols
may be seen in pictures, words, art, architecture, and
common household items. Symbols are another way
of communicating the thoughts, meanings, and hopes
of a particular cultural group. Symbolism representing
luck, prosperity, long life, happiness, and wealth are
all important aspects in Chinese culture. Symbols
representing these virtues are often seen in everyday
life and appear during holidays and festivals. There
are also deities that represent some of these virtues:
the God of Luck, the God of Prosperity, and the God
of Longevity, to name a few. Many Chinese hope to
increase good fortune in their lives by surrounding
themselves with items that represent these lucky signs.
PAPERCUTS
Traditional papercuts are made at home
with scissors or knives from very thin
sheets of colored paper. In the past,
people enjoyed making designs from paper
because it was quick and did not require
many tools. Girls as young as six years
old were taught how to cut paper by older
family members. Sometimes designs are
only cut once. Other times a pattern is
used over and over again by placing it on
a clean sheet of paper and putting a smoking oil lamp beneath
it. When the smoke has made its mark, it is removed and the
outline that is left behind can be cut.
Papercuts of the Eight Immortals. The Eight Immortals are famous throughout
China. They were all awarded immortality by completing acts of great nobility.
Each figure represents a different aspect of life; for example, wealth, youth, old
age, and wisdom. 9–15925 j,a,b,i,c,d,e,f
and the moon and stars. In the past, young women were taught to
weave, dye, and embroider so that they could make pieces to add
to their marriage dowry. Such pieces included pillowcases, quilt
covers, and other items used in the home. Young women were
often chosen for marriage based on their embroidery skills rather
than their beauty. Often peasant women were hired by the upper
classes to embroider their clothing and other personal items. These
embroidery projects helped supplement their income.
Chinese embroidery often uses the “five colors” that are thought
to represent the different natural forces in the world. Yellow stands
for the earth; blue for wood; white for metal; red for fire; and black
for water. When these five colors are used together in embroidery,
they are known as the “threads of life on cotton cloth.” These
threads are thought to protect the wearer from harm.
Above: Pair of pink child’s mittens. The palm of the glove is in the shape of a cat’s
face with holes at the ears for fingers to stick out; appliquéd eyes and nose,
thread mustache. Collected in Beijing China, 1945. 9–21269a,b
Pair of lavender child’s slippers with tiger tip. Hunter green fringed tiger mask
with “wang” sign (for king of the animals) stitched on forehead, appliquéd black
and white eyes and white nose; hunter green long mustache and embroidered
eyebrows. Collected in Beijing, China, 1945. 9–21293a,b
Clockwise: Little boy’s headband. Heart shaped with floral design. Collected in
Nanking, China, 1945. 9–21250
Pair of little boy’s silk boots with chrysanthemum embroidery. The chrysanthemum
symbolizes autumn and long life. Collected in Beijing, China, 1944. 9–21284a,b
Two-faced purse with flaps. Yellow satin embroidered in satin and stem stitch.
Collected in Beijing, China, 1944. 9–21272
WOODBLOCK PRINTS
Perhaps the most common of all Chinese folk arts are woodblock
prints. They are called nianhua in Chinese. This means “New
Year’s pictures,” because they are always put up around the
house during the New Year Festival. Woodblock prints are very
bright and colorful posters, with thousands of different kinds of
designs. They have been made since the 11th century. People in
China use them for two reasons: to bring good luck and for
decoration. Chinese people call buying nianhua “inviting in the
gods” because pictures of gods are some of the most popular
kinds of prints.
There are two types of popular prints. One popular print has
pictures of gods that people use in religious ceremonies. These
are often burned at the end of the ceremony as an offering. In
the past people also used woodblock printing methods to make
paper money (or “spirit money”) to be offered to gods, ghosts,
and ancestors.
Left: Woodblock
print of the God
of Increased
Happiness and
Wealth. Two
acolytes hold
fans behind the
enthroned god.
Two officials in
front. Over the
inscription, red
imprint: Dragon
Hall. Collected in
Beijing, China,
1942. 9–21438
Right: Woodblock
print of the Spirit
of Bridges. Two fish
leap up toward the
spirit’s belt. The
acolyte helps him
over a bridge.
Collected in
Beijing, China,
1942. 9–21440.
During the New Year Festival markets are filled with special foods,
and vibrant decorations adorn windows. Fireworks are a bright and
electrifying part of this holiday. People gather to watch exciting lion
and dragon dances accompanied by lively music. Families decorate
their doors with posters that contain lucky symbols, gods, and
New Year decorations sold in a shop in Chinatown, San Francisco,
other popular figures. During this holiday season people wish for California, 2005. Left: Dragon Dance performers at the Chinese New Year’s
happiness, riches, and good health for their families and friends. Parade. San Francisco, California, 2005. Photographs by Nicole Mullen
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are a time for families to
come together and give thanks. Many friends and relatives visit
one another’s homes to celebrate. There are lots of lucky foods
at this time of year. Chinese people honor their ancestors at the
family banquet table by having a big feast called “surrounding
the stove” (weilu). Before the main dishes arrive, guests treat
themselves to different snacks such as fruits, nuts, and seeds.
The most popular snacks are put in a special tray with eight sides
(because eight is a lucky number in China). Each snack represents
good fortune in a different way, with items such as kumquats
(gold), coconut (togetherness), and lotus seeds (children).
The most special holiday foods are prepared for banquets. During
the New Year people eat chicken soup, pork, stir-fried vegetables,
and whole fish along with many other delicious dishes. Fish
served during the New Year symbolizes the hope for wealth and
abundance year after year. Another popular food are small meat
dumplings called jiaozi. Thin layers of dough are filled with
chopped pork, cabbage, garlic, ginger, and other ingredients.
Jiaozi are cooked in large pots of boiling water and eaten with
dipping sauces made from soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil. The
most popular holiday dessert is called niangao, which means
“New Year cake.” It is a sweet, sticky pudding made from rice.
Niangao is made differently in various parts of the country;
sometimes it is fried and other times it is steamed. Tangerines
and oranges, along with flowers such as plum blossoms and
narcissus, are popular in markets and homes around this time Dragon Dance performer at the Chinese New year Parade. San Francisco,
of the year because they symbolize good fortune. 2005. Photograph by Nicole Mullen.
DOOR GODS
People decorate their gate posts and door panels with door gods
(menshen) on the last day of the 12th moon. Since the second
century AD, Chinese people have put up door gods during the
New Year festival in order to protect their families and homes
from harm. People paste pairs of door gods in the center of their
door panels. In ancient times there were two gods, named
Shentu and Yulu, that people carved or painted on peachwood
and hung on their doors for good luck. These fierce-looking gods
were guardians of the underworld who were thought to protect
homes from demons. Beginning in the Song Dynasty (960–1279),
people began to draw these images in ink on red paper.
Door gods are still popular today, and there are many different
types of guardians. Animals like roosters and tigers, along with
famous military generals from hundreds of years ago, are some
of the more recently displayed door gods. In the past, door gods
were always made by hand; however, today they are usually
made in factories.
Door Gods of the ancestral hall of the Lin Family, Taipei City, Taiwan, February 1,
2003. Both were military marshals of Tang Dynasty (618–907), who were said to
guard the Emperor Taizong against the vengeance of the Dragon King. The two
marshals were courageous enough to guard the emperor voluntarily so that the
Dragon King would never harm Emperor Taizong. From this story, people often
paint or carve the image of the two marshals to protect their own homes.
Photograph by Ching-chih Lin.
Left: Like those throughout China, this commonly decorated door includes
spring couplets and a pair of door gods. Pingxi in Taipei County, Taiwan,
January 6, 2005. Photograph by Ching-chih Lin.
SPRING COUPLETS
Spring couplets (chunlian)
are poems that are hung
up in pairs on New Year’s
Eve, one on each side of
an entryway. Each one
usually has four, five, or
seven Chinese characters,
although some are 500
words long! These poems
are hung outside homes
and businesses. They
wish for wealth, good fortune, and long life to those inside. Like
other New Year decorations, they tend to be written on red
paper, the luckiest color. They are difficult to write. Each half of
the couplet must use the same exact grammar and match the
other half perfectly. People also hang a third piece of paper
across the top of their doorways. This paper has four Chinese
characters on it that sum up the meaning of the spring couplet.
Spring couplets are often pasted on the gates of companies or restaurants to greet
customers or to make a wish. The spring couplets above say:
Right: Pair of spring couplets. Black ink on red paper. Collected in Beijing, China.
1942.9-21360a,b. The spring couplets say:
May a thousand good omens gather like clouds, and one hundred kinds of happiness
combine here; May you smoothly enter into a new spring and everything follow your
heart’s desire.
STOVE GOD
For about 2000 years Chinese
people have worshiped the
Stove God. He is very impor-
tant because he protects the
home and the family from
harm. A poster of the Stove
God is often hung above the
stove in Chinese kitchens. The
Stove God watches over each
family throughout the year. On
the 23rd of the last month of
the lunar year he reports to the
Jade Emperor on each family’s
behavior. Families offer the Stove God many sweet foods before
his departure. Often candles and incense are lit at this time;
sometimes an offering of paper money is burned. Many families
then seal the mouth of the Stove God’s poster with honey so that
he will be able to report only sweet things about them. Others
believe that the honey acts as a seal, so the Stove God cannot
say anything at all. The Stove God is said to return to families’
homes on the first day of the New Year.
Above: Banner with Spring inscriptions for kitchen shrine. Translation top rectan-
gle: “Stove God,” Cross strip: “Lord of the whole household” Side strips: “When you
ascend into heaven, tell good things! When you return to your shrine, bring down
good luck!” Collected in Beijing, China, 1942. 9–21433
Right: Stove God and Wife. Modern print from original Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
woodblocks; Wei county, Shantung province. “Collection of Bo Songnian; © Chinese
Popular Culture Project.”
DIVINATION &
THE C HINESE Z ODIAC
During the New Year festival, people like to have
their fortunes told outside of the local temple. The
diviner asks the person for the hour, day, month,
and year of their birth (all according to the Chinese
calendar). It is also important for the diviner to
know one’s zodiac sign in order to give a good
prediction. The diviner then uses complex divina-
tion charts based on nature and the laws of the
universe to describe what one can expect in both
their work and private life.
Papercut of the twelve zodiac animals. 2005 is the year of the rooster.
The Lantern Decoration of the Arch of Song Shan Ciyou Temple. The decoration is made in the shape of the Chinese Zodiac animals (left to right):
Ox, Rat, Pig, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Ram, Horse, Snake, Dragon, Rabbit, Tiger, Taiwan. February 2003. Photograph by Ching-Chih LIn.
During the Lantern Festival the lion dance (shi wu) and dragon
dance (long wu) are performed. Men disguise themselves in huge,
colorful lion heads and bodies made of papier-mâché. As drums
and gongs play, one man moves the head. The other man shifts
the back of the lion, making sure it is always moving. The drag-
on is made of bamboo rods and colorful cloth, and it stretches
for at least 20 or 30 feet. Each part of the dragon is held up on
poles. Many people are needed to help make the dragon move
through the streets.
The most famous dragon dance takes place not in China, but in
San Francisco. In the Golden Dragon Parade, begun in 1953, the
dragon is 160 feet long. There are also many floats, musicians, Red lanterns in front of the Ciyou Temple. Red is an auspicious color. Red
and dancers in the parade. Every year, almost half a million lanterns are often used in weddings and temple festivals. Taiwan, February
people come to watch this parade. 2003. Photograph by Ching-chih Lin.
During the Lantern Festival, on the last night of the New Year
holiday, every household eats rice balls called yuanxiao. They
are perfectly round, and symbolize the first full moon of the year.
Usually they are sweet and filled with date or sesame paste.
Sometimes they are salty and are filled with chicken, pork, and
vegetables. Yuamxiao are only available for sale a few days a year
during the holiday season.
Left: In celebration of the year of the ram, the animal lantern wishes
great fortune to all. Right: Traditional lantern style, in the shape of a
lotus, decorates the Ciyou temple. Taiwan, February, 2003.
Photograph by Ching-chih Lin.
A vivid show of acting puppets often seen during the Lantern Festival in China. In this picture, the Dragon King has accused the Monkey of killing the
King’s son in front of the Great Jade Emperor—the supreme ruler of the Heaven; from an episode of the famous novel The Journey to the West, by
Xiyou ji. Guandu Temple in Taipei, Taiwan, February 2003. Photograph by Ching-chih Lin.
Right: People usually offer foods, fruits, and paper money as sacrifices to
their ancestors. In this picture, a “paper car” was offered on the altar. A
relative may have wished for their late family member to have a convenient
after-life or it may have been requested by the ancestor in the relative’s
dreams. Taiwan.
Below: On Tomb Sweeping Day, relatives gather to clean and weed the tomb
of their common ancestors. Next, they spread some paper money on the tomb
and offer sacrifices to the ancestors in front of the tombstone . After the
worship, relatives share the sacrifice and have picnics, speaking with each
other about the past year. Usually the elders will tell the story of their
ancestors to the children to let them know the origins of the family. Taiwan.
Below right: In each tomb, there is a small stele of the Land God, who is
believed to protect the ancestors. Taiwan. Photographs by Ching-chih Lin.
On the 15th of the seventh lunar month, the community has a feast to offer foods
to the hungry ghosts. People often offer pigs as a sacrifice during this occasion.
The mouth of the pig is usually filled with orange or pineapple. Taipei City, Taiwan,
2004. Photograph by Ching-chih Lin.
Worshippers offer as much as possible, in order to please or bribe the ghosts. They want the ghosts to be satisfied with
the foods so that they will either leave the community or help their businesses to be prosperous. Taiwan. Photograph by Ching-chih Lin.
Dragon boat races are one of the liveliest parts of the festival.
People bring their boats to the local lake or river to compete
against their neighbors every year. The long, thin boats are very
large and are made to look like dragons. These boats can carry
as many as 80 rowers. Rowers paddle together while drums and
gongs play in order to help keep the rhythm of the rowers steady.
Zongzi is eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival. Zongzi is made with
a ball of rice wrapped in rice, palm, or bamboo leaves and tied together
with a string. Inside the rice are different kinds of fillings, some are
sweet are filled with fruit and red beans. Savory zongzi are often filled
with egg yolks, nuts, mushrooms, and meat. Photograph by Ching-chih Lin.
GRANDFATHER SEVEN
& GRANDFATHER EIGHT
People often dress as Grandfather Seven and
Grandfather Eight during festivals and street
fairs. Grandfather Eight is short and has a
black face. Grandfather Seven is very tall
and has a long red tongue which hangs from
his mouth. A popular myth tells of their
close friendship. One day they had plans to
meet; however, Grandfather Eight came into
a terrible rainstorm and drowned in the river
on his way to meet Grandfather Seven.
When Grandfather Seven discovered his
body he became so distraught by his friend's
death that he hung himself. This explains
why Grandfather Eight has a black face and
why Grandfather Seven has such a long
tongue. To honor their devotion to one
another they were made watchmen. The
two friends watch over cities and towns
reporting any misbehavior they see to the
city god.
Grandfather Seven and Grandfather Eight often perform ritual dances in temple festivals and at
processions for different gods. They usually walk in front of the celebrated god, expelling any
demons on the street so that the god can proceed peacefully. Taiwan. Photographs by Ching-chih Lin.