Traditional Chinese Symbols And What They Mean

By James Chung

The Chinese symbols had included all the characters, signs and alphabets which were used in China for thousands of years and reached a staggering number of eighty thousand approximately. Now of course the use of Chinese symbols has been greatly reduced.

Since the Chinese language has evolved over time the use of the symbols has declined. Nonetheless the symbols serve another purpose and that is related to the arts. The physical form of the ancient Chinese symbols seems to have a timeless aesthetic appeal which has earned them world wide fame.

The use of the Chinese symbols in China is as popular as ever. You can notice them in many places particularly in expressions of art and architecture. The Chinese people are using these symbols to mark their products like kitchenware etc. There is another aim to these symbols which are related to superstition which is still followed in Chinese culture.

The Chinese symbols are formed so artistically that they are extremely attractive whatever their meaning might be. In reality every symbol has deep philosophical connotation behind them which has rich history and is also used traditionally.

Once you start understanding the Chinese symbols you will find that they cover a large area starting from very positive to highly negative. The Chinese people believe that by using the positive symbols they can attract good things to happen to them. They are absolutely certain that the positive symbols can attract good fortune.

This principle may hold true or not is subject to personal faith. As far as Chinese people are concerned the symbols are extremely significant in their life in terms of their beauty as well as their consequences on their life by including them.

To give an example you may find five bats grouped together which is extremely popular in China for good luck. These bats represent five good things in life like wealth, health, love, longevity and virtue. If they are represented in red color they become even more powerful charm.

You will find another symbol in many places in modern Chinese society which is the sunset symbol. Sun as Chinese see it is the origin of the Yang energy and has remarkable power.

Sun depicts a number of things to the Chinese people. One of the meanings is that sun provides stability to the society which has its roots in popular ancient legends. Other than this sun is also the source of energy and purification and is therefore highly respected by the Chinese. - 30435

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