Thursday, April 15, 2010

Lucky Charms of Asia


(pictures above from: www.forumgarden.com/forums/attachments/outdoo..., www.africantropicalheritage.com/bamboo.jpg, activerain.com/.../5/9/1/9/ar122628307191955.jpg and ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31L61oiCCXL.jpg)

In Asia, there are certain symbols that represent luck. These symbols would usually appear on some red envelopes. These envelopes are usually received on Chinese New Year and most traditional Asian weddings with some money as a gift. Some of the lucky symbols are Koi Fish, Jade Stones and Bamboo plants. Of coarse, there are many more symbols of luck which cannot all be listed but more symbols will be pictured.

  • In Japan, Koi Fish would represent perserverance in adversity and strength of purpose. There is a legend about the Koi Fish, it says that the stringest Koi would swim up a stream until it reaches a waterfall and there it jumps into the mists and turns into a water dragon
  • In Chinese cultures Jade Stones are believed to represent a link between the physical and spiritual worlds and thought to be a material that mostly embodies the yin and yang qualities of Earth and Heaven, they call it "the stone of Heaven"
  • In Japan, Bamboo represents strength, endurance and resilience
(information from Answers.com)

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