Auspicious motifs

The motifs on Chinese objects are often an auspicious phrase left unspoken. There are two main methods. One is the pun: the bat (fu) sounds like "fortune" (fu), the deer (lu) like "official rank" (lu), the shou of the paradise flycatcher (shoudainiao) like "long life" (shou), and fish (yu) like "surplus" (yu), as in "may every year bring plenty". The other is the symbol: gourds and fruit full of seeds or hanging in clusters stand for many descendants, and the lingzhi mushroom for long life. Put several images together and they form a complete wish. The National Taiwan Museum's A Small Corner of Merit shows jade ornaments donated by Hsieh Pi-lien, grouped by meaning: paired butterflies and gourds for a happy marriage and a family line that goes on, a carp leaping the Dragon Gate for success, and lingzhi, qilin, and paradise flycatchers for long life and good health; it also explains the gemmological difference between jadeite and nephrite. The exhibition's commemorative stamp combines four bats and four butterflies to make "eight blessings at the door".

First identify the animals, plants, or objects carved on the jade, then say their names aloud and listen for the pun.

What images can you find on this jade ornament? Read their names together: what wish do they make?