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Click here for order information. Make note of card number
for ordering. |
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Caption on back of cards: |
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2002-001 “Wallowing” The water buffalo or ox is the
second animal in the Chinese zodiac and is very representative of southern
China. The water buffalo is one of
the many symbols of spring, and therefore symbolizes new beginnings. |
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2002-002 “Morning Glory and Cricket” Morning Glory
(Ch'ien Niu) and Cricket (xi‑shuo): Within the Chinese culture, most of
nature has symbolic meaning. The
cricket symbolizes courage, pluck and a fighting spirit as well as
summer. This symbolism comes from the
cricket‑fights, which are documented in Chinese literature from the 8th
century. The beauty of the morning
glory is reflected in the flowers opening in the morning, traveling with the
sun and closing in the afternoon. To
many, the flower is symbolic of marital bliss. According to an ancient Chinese legend, Ch'ien Niu was
entrusted by God to take care of cows in the heavenly kingdom and Chih Neu
was put in charge of seamstress duties.
As legend would have it, they fell in love and neglected their
duties. The god was angry and
separated the two, putting each on one side of the Silver River in heaven,
allowing them to meet only once during the year. On the seventh day of the seventh moon, thousands of magpies
would come and form a bridge across the Silver River so the two lovers could
meet. In the Chinese lunar calendar,
the seventh day of the seventh moon is a night for lovers and the star‑shaped
morning glory is a reminder of that romance. |
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2002-003 “Wisteria and
Swallows” Wisteria (Ziteng) and Swallows
(Yan): Within Chinese culture, most of nature has symbolic meaning. In this painitng both the swallow and the
wisteria represent spring. The
swallow, according to ancient Chinese legend, would return in spring from
hiding in the sea where they had spent the winter as mussels. When a swallow builds its nest in
someone's eaves, the swallow symbolizes success, happiness and children. Wisteria, or Ziteng, translated as purple
vine, is one of the most spectacular garden plants and has been cultivated in
Chinese gardens for at least 1500 years.
It is admired for both its blossoms and its dragon‑like, gnarled
and twisted trunks. |
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2002-004 “Summer Lotus” The lotus or sea‑rose is
of unique importance in Chinese folklore and symbolism due largely to
Buddhist influence. It is the symbol
of purity and is one of the eight Buddhist precious things. There are two words that mean lotus ‑
"Lian" and "He". The words mean to bind or connect as in
marriage, continuous ‑ in unison, and to love. The painting of two lotus flowers (or a
leaf and a blossom) expresses the wish for "heart and harmony
shared." |
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2002-005 “Bacchus’s Feast” Grapes (Pu Tao) were introduced
into China in 126 B.C. by the famous Minister Chang Ch'ien upon his return
from visiting with the Indo‑Scythians.
The grape can be found in art motifs as a border pattern and is occasionally
found on the backs of ancient bronze mirrors or in paintings. Grapes are called "Pu Tao". The "Pu" means crawling, which
is the nature of a vine and "Tao" means spirit. A glass from the vine has offered
inspiration to artists and poets throughout time. |
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2002-006 “Misty Pavilion
in the Huangshan Mountains” Landscapes (shan-shui) literally means “mountains and water.” The Chinese landscape painting is
representational of not only the mountains, but everything around the
mountains. The woods, the water, the
clouds and of course the mist. The
four wonders of Mt. Huangshan are the pines, rocks, clouds and springs. The pines grow on dangerous cliffs, towering
aloft. The Chinese have a saying
"there are rocks everywhere; every rock stands with a pine; and every
pine is unique. |
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2002-007 “Sentinel” This is representative of the scenery of Wulingyuan located near
Zhangjiajie City, western Hunan Province of China. It is a breath taking landscape of unique quartzite sandstone
peaks rising from the mists ‑ green, myriad stones towering, aves and
gullies, deep, quiet and running water. |
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