Happiness & Blessings
1st May – 13th August 2006

Happiness & Blessings: Hidden meanings in Chinese art, opens at the Museum of East Asian Art, Bath on 1st May 2006. Illustrating the cultural significance of symbolic motifs in Chinese art, this intriguing exhibition explores in detail the idea of the Five Happinesses; luck, prosperity, longevity, happiness and wealth.

For centuries, the Chinese believed that to increase their chances of a happy and prosperous existence, they should include lucky objects, images and words into their daily lives. Since the Han dynasty (206 BC— 220AD) recurring themes of good fortune, and auspiciousness have been represented by the use of symbolic motifs. Included within decorative art, these motifs are often easily recognisable for symbolising one or a combination of the five most sought after values in Chinese culture —luck, prosperity, longevity, double happiness, and wealth. These symbolic emblems are often more commonly referred to as the ‘Five Happinesses' or ‘Five Fold Happiness'.

This exhibition will take an extensive look at how these themes are related to particular motifs, through the use of pictorial puns. The Chinese language consists of a large number of words that sound the same but which can only be distinguished by a slight variation in tone. This makes it is particularly easy to make puns or play on words from two similar sounding words, which have very different meanings. Many of the lucky motifs included in Chinese art are formed this way, and are known visually as rebuses. For example the Chinese word for bat is Fu which has the same sound as the word for luck. Bats are therefore often used as motifs as a way to send good luck messages. Today this subtle use of symbolic language still appears within many aspects of Chinese culture.

This exhibition is on show until 13th August.