Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs Fourth Revised Edition : A Comprehensive Handbook on Symbolism in Chinese Art Through the Ages

List of Illustrations; Introduction to the New Edition; Introduction; A; Agriculture; Alarm-staff; Amber; Amitabha; Amusements; Ânanda; Ancestral Worship; Ant; Apple; Apricot; Architecture; Astrology; Astronomy; Axe; Azalea; B; Bamboo; Bat; Bear; Beast of Greed; Bee; Begging-bowl; Bell; Birds and Beasts; Birth; Bodhi Tree; Bó Gû Tú; Books; Brahma; Bronze; Broom; Buddha's Hand; Butterfly; C; Cangue; Canopy; Carpets; Castanets; Cat; Cedrela; Chain; Charms; Cherry; Chinaware; Chisel-knife; Chrysanthemum; Cicada; Club; Coins; Colours; Compass; Conch-shell; Conch-shell Trumpet; Confucius.;Gain a deeper appreciation for Chinese art and architecture by understanding its symbols. The Yin and Yang, dragon, phoenix, five elements, and other symbols are explained in their historical and cultural context. Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs also includes articles on Chinese beliefs, customs, arts and crafts, foods, agriculture and medicine. Originally published in 1941, this is the standard reference book, with over 400 illustrations to help clarify and define this ancient, complex culture. Contents 11 List of Illustrations 15 Introduction to the New Edition 21 Introduction 29 A 35 Agriculture 35 Alarm-staff 38 Amber 38 Amitabha 39 Amusements 40 Ânanda 46 Ancestral Worship 47 Ant 48 Apple 49 Apricot 49 Architecture 50 Astrology 57 Astronomy 60 Axe 60 Azalea 61 B 62 Bamboo 62 Bat 63 Bear 64 Beast of Greed 64 Bee 66 Begging-bowl 67 Bell 67 Birds and Beasts 68 Birth 70 Bodhi Tree 72 Bó Gû Tú 73 Books 73 Brahma 75 Bronze 75 Broom 77 Buddha’s Hand 78 Butterfly 78 C 79 Cangue 79 Canopy 79 Carpets 79 Castanets 83 Cat 83 Cedrela 85 Chain 85 Charms 85 Cherry 90 Chinaware 90 Chisel-knife 93 Chrysanthemum 93 Cicada 94 Club 95 Coins 96 Colours 100 Compass 103 Conch-shell 106 Conch-shell Trumpet 106 Confucius 106 Convolvulus 109 Coral 109 Costume 109 Cotton 120 Crane 120 Cricket 122 Cross-thunderbolt 122 Crow 122 Crown of Brahma 123 Curios 123 Cycle of Sixty 124 D 128 Dagger 128 Dà Yû 128 Death 129 Deer 134 Diamond Mace 135 Diaper Patterns 136 Dì Zàng 140 Dog 141 Donkey 144 Door Gods 144 Dove 146 Dragon 147 Dragon-fly 155 Drum 160 Drama 156 Duck 160 E 162 Eight Diagrams 162 Eight Immortals 164 Eight Treasures 170 Eighteen Lohan 172 Elephant 180 Elixir of Life 182 Embroidery 184 Enamelware 185 F 186 Falcon 186 Fan 186 Feng Shui 189 Fire 190 Fish 194 Five Elements 196 Five Poisons 197 Five Viscera 199 Flags 199 Flowers 200 Flute 202 Fly-whisk 203 Footprints of Buddha 203 Four Heavenly Kings 204 Four Treasures 207 Fowl 208 Fox 210 Fú Yì 211 G 213 Gall-bladder 213 Glow-worm 213 Goad 214 God of Fire 214 God of Literature 215 God of Longevity 217 God of the Kitchen 217 God of War 218 God of Wealth 219 Gold 221 Gong 221 Goose, Wild 223 Gourd 224 Grain Measure 224 Grape 225 H 226 Hammer 226 Hand 226 Hare 227 Heart 228 Hemerocallis 228 Horse 229 Hundred Antiques 232 I 234 Idols 234 Intestines 236 Iron 236 Islands of the Blest 238 J 239 Jade 239 Jar 242 Jasmine 242 K 243 Kidneys 243 Kingfisher 243 Kuan Yin 244 L 247 Lacquer 247 Lamaism 248 Laocius 250 Lapis Lazuli 252 Leopard 252 Lion 253 Liver 254 Lotus 255 Lozenge 258 Lungs 258 Lute 258 M 260 Mace 260 Magnolia 260 Magpie 260 Maitreya Buddha 262 Manjusri 262 Marriage 265 Medicine 268 Mencius 271 Mirrors 272 Monkey 274 Moon 275 Mosquito 278 Mulberry 278 Musical Instruments 279 Mystic Knot 286 N 287 Narcissus 287 Nézhä 287 Numbers 288 O 291 Oak 291 Olea Fragrans 291 Oleander 292 Opium 292 Orange 293 Orchid 294 Owl 294 Ox 295 P 298 Pagoda 298 Painting 299 Palmtree 305 Pán Gû 305 Parrot 307 Peach 307 Peacock 309 Pear 310 Pearl 311 Péng Niâo 312 Peony 312 Persimmon 313 Pheasant 314 Phoenix 315 Pig 317 Pike 318 Pine 319 Plant of Long Life 319 Plantain 321 Plum 321 Pomegranate 323 Praying-mantis 324 Pû Xián 324 Q 326 Quail 326 Queen of Heaven 326 R 328 Rat 328 Reed-organ 328 Rhinoceros Horns 329 Rice 330 Ring 331 Rosary 331 Rúyì 332 S 334 Scroll 334 Seals 335 Secret Societies 337 Seven Appearances 338 Shâkyamuni Buddha 338 Sheep 344 Shop-signs 345 Shùn 346 Silk 347 Silver 348 Skeleton Staff 349 Skull-cup 349 Snake 349 Snare 350 Spear 351 Spiritualism 351 Spleen 352 Stars 353 Stomach 360 Stone 361 Stone Chime 362 Sü Shì 363 Sun 363 Swallow 365 Swastika 366 Sword 367 T 369 Tàijí 369 Tea 370 Ten Celestial Stems 372 Thigh-bone Trumpet 373 Three Great Beings 373 Three Pure Ones 374 Thunderbolt 377 Thunderbolt-dagger 378 Tiger 379 Toad 381 Tortoise 383 Trees 385 Trident 388 Twelve Ornaments 388 Twelve Terrestrial Branches 390 U 392 Umbrella 392 Unicorn 392 V 395 Vase 395 Vermicelli 395 Vulture Peak 396 W 397 Water 397 Water-pot 400 Wéiqí 400 Wéi Tuó 401 Wheel of the Law 401 Willow 404 Wish-granting Gem 415 Wolf 416 Wood 416 Written Characters 417 X 426 Xï Wáng Mû 426 Y 428 Yama 428 Yïn and Yáng 435 Index 439 Written with reader accessibility in mind, this comprehensive handbook of symbolism in Chinese art and culture will be an invaluable resource for any student of Eastern art history, Chinese arts and crafts, and anyone interested in commonly held Chinese beliefs and their origins.

In Chinese Symbolism & Art Motifs Fourth Edition, scholar C.A.S. Williams offers concise explanations of the essential symbols and motifs relevant to Chinese literature, arts & crafts, and architecture. This reference book has been a standard among students of Chinese culture and history since 1941 and, in its Fourth Edition, has been completely reset with Pinyin pronunciation of Chinese names and words.

Organized alphabetically, enhanced by over 400 illustrations, and clearly written for accessibility across a variety of fields, this book not only explains symbols and motifs essential to any designer, art collector, or historian, but delves into ancient customs in religion, food, agriculture, and medicine.

Some of the symbols and motifs explicated are:

• The Eight Immortals
• The Five Elements
• The Dragon
• The Phoenix
• Yin and Yang

With Chinese Symbolism & Art Motifs, you can access hidden insights into the intentions behind works of Chinese craftsmanship, and the thorough explanations of each symbol accompanied by the historical origins from which they arose. It will complement your existing knowledge of any area of Chinese culture, or help you confidently explore new topics within the realm of Asian art and history. Written with reader accessibility in mind, this comprehensive handbook of symbolism in Chinese art and culture will be an invaluable resource for any student of Eastern art history, Chinese arts and crafts, and anyone interested in commonly held Chinese beliefs and their origins. In Chinese Symbolism & Art Motifs Fourth Edition , scholar C.A.S. Williams offers concise explanations of the essential symbols and motifs relevant to Chinese literature, arts & crafts, and architecture. This reference book has been a standard among students of Chinese culture and history since 1941 and, in its Fourth Edition, has been completely reset with Pinyin pronunciation of Chinese names and words. Organized alphabetically, enhanced by over 400 illustrations, and clearly written for accessibility across a variety of fields, this book not only explains symbols and motifs essential to any designer, art collector, or historian, but delves into ancient customs in religion, food, agriculture, and medicine. Some of the symbols and motifs explicated are: The Eight Immortals The Five Elements The Dragon The Phoenix Yin and Yang With Chinese Symbolism & Art Motifs , you can access hidden insights into the intentions behind works of Chinese craftsmanship, and the thorough explanations of each symbol accompanied by the historical origins from which they arose. It will complement your existing knowledge of any area of Chinese culture, or help you confidently explore new topics within the realm of Asian art and history. The Eight Immortals, the five elements, the dragon and the phoenix, yin and yang - presentations of these important cultural symbols are pervasive in Chinese literature, art, and architecture and without an understanding of their significance, much Chinese history, folklore, and culture cannot be fully appreciated. C.A.S. Williams offers concise explanations of these essential symbols and motifs. Arranged alphabetically for easy access, the book not only explains essential cultural symbols, accompanied by their Chinese characters, but also contains many articles on Chinese beliefs, customs, arts and crafts, food, agriculture, and medicine

Gain a deeper appreciation for Chinese art and architecture by understanding its symbols. The Yin and Yang, dragon, phoenix, five elements, and other symbols are explained in their historical and cultural context. Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs also includes articles on Chinese beliefs, customs, arts and crafts, foods, agriculture and medicine.

Originally published in 1941, this is the standard reference book, with over 400 illustrations to help clarify and define this ancient, complex culture.