Page:Brinkley - China - Volume 1.djvu/187

 as the object which they seek to grasp, and occasionally flame-like rays of effulgence issue from it.

2.—A circular object enclosing a square. This has been identified as the Kwei, or honorary tablet for officials, but there appears to be little doubt that it was originally a representation of the Chinese "cash," a small copper coin having a square hole through which a string is passed. The decorative purpose of this symbol is to typify riches.

3.—A lozenge-shaped object having fillets threaded through it. This also is supposed to represent the Kwei, or stone of honour for officials. Two of such lozenges, with overlapping ends, form the dual symbol fang-shang.

4.—A lozenge-shaped object having a compartment above. This is supposed to be a variety of No. 3.

5.—An object resembling a mason's square, being the king, a sonorous stone, or bronze plate, used like a bell in China. An ideograph having the same sound (king) signifies "goodness," "prosperity," "fortune," and the instrument is consequently depicted instead of the ideograph, being carved in that sense on the ends of rafters and on articles of furniture.

6.—Two oblong objects placed close together, and supposed to represent books; hence symbols of literature, which the Chinese hold in highest esteem.

7.—A pair of curved objects, representing rhinoceros horns (se-keo).

8.—A leaf, of variable form; probably a leaf of the artemisia (ai-yeh), which is an emblem of good augury.

These symbols are sometimes seen carried by a procession of fantastic figures, possibly tribute-bearers from the tribes of the Man, or southern barbarians. They are also used as marks, and "may generally be distinguished from other ornaments by ribbons or fillets entwined about them."

The Buddhist Symbols are called Pa-chi-siung, or the eight lucky emblems of Buddhism. "They are carved in wood or moulded in clay, and offered on