Complete Collection of Chinese Auspicious Decorative Patterns: Auspicious Animals

Author: Qian Zhengsheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The mouse is the first in the twelve zodiac animals, and those born in the Year of the Rat regard it as their auspicious symbol in life. How could such a small mouse become the leader of the twelve zodiac signs? The common belief is that the order of the twelve zodiac animals is determined by the time of day when each animal is most active. The hour between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. is called the "Hour of the Rat," and this is when the mouse is most active, making it the auspicious symbol of this time. Despite its reputation for stealing food, the mouse, an almost human-like creature that has coexisted with humans since the dawn of time and is even more numerous than humans, possesses extremely strong reproductive and survival abilities. Its placement as the first in the twelve zodiac signs is linked to the hope for human reproduction and longevity. The mouse lives underground and prefers to be active at night, belonging to the great yin. Since great yin meets great yang to form great fortune, traditional auspicious patterns featuring mice are almost always associated with light.
"Little mouse, up the lampstand,
Stealing oil, can’t come down."
In the folk tale "The Mouse’s Wedding," the mouse seeks to marry the sun. "The Mouse’s Wedding" is a widely circulated traditional auspicious pattern. It tells of a mouse who has a daughter and wants to find a suitable husband. She seeks the sun and chases the colorful clouds, but in the end, she marries her nemesis—the cat. In folk art, mice are depicted as lively, adorable, and humorous figures, and people regard them as auspicious symbols.
P1 The ox ranks second in the twelve zodiac animals and is regarded as the auspicious symbol of those born in the Year of the Ox. The ox symbolizes diligence, endurance, great giving, and little taking. It eats grass but gives milk, even sacrificing its own flesh and blood. It contributes everything to human food and clothing alongside farmers, making it the best and closest friend of humanity. Humanity should treat the ox with deep gratitude. The ox represents spring because it plows the fields after the spring begins, so in the past, people held ceremonies to mark the start of plowing, and thus "Spring Ox Plowing" became an auspicious pattern. In some places, special temples ("Ox Temples") were built for the ox. The ox has a close relationship with water. People place stone or bronze statues of oxen on the banks or throw them into rivers to ward off water and prevent floods. Folklore considers the ox a sacred creature, and many myths and legends feature divine oxes. In Taoist tradition, when Laozi traveled west, he rode a green ox. When Laozi passed through the Hangu Pass, the gatekeeper Yin Xi noticed a purple mist floating in the air, knowing a true immortal was passing by. He ordered the guards to say, "If an old man comes from the east, riding a green ox and a wooden cart, do not let him pass." One day, an old man indeed arrived on a green ox, seeking passage. This old man was Laozi. At the time, Laozi knew Yin Xi had recognized his true identity and handed him the Tao Te Ching. Laozi then left the pass and traveled west to teach the people of the Western regions. This is the legend known as "Laozi’s Western Journey" (or "Laozi Converts the Westerners")
P9 The tiger is one of the twelve zodiac animals, and those born in the Year of the Tiger take pride in this auspicious symbol. The tiger is the king of beasts, with a "king" character pattern on its forehead, symbolizing courage and bravery. It can ward off evil spirits and protect peace. The tiger is also used as a guardian animal for tombs, and stone statues of tigers are often seen in front of graves. The tiger is a yang creature, representing masculinity. The white tiger is one of the ancient Chinese "Four Spirits."