The Chinese character for"fish", written in the traditional form, is"魚".The pronunciation of fish in Chinese, "yu", sounds like a character that means"plenty".Thus, fish becomes a symbol of victory in Chinese culture.There is an idiom"Every year we' ll have enough things to spend", which means"to have a spare every year".During the Spring Festival, for example, fish is often left uneaten.The reason is that the uneaten fish is meant to represent the humans' hopes of having something left over for the next year.
Fish can also represent long life, which comes from the fact that fish are able to grow really old.At the same time, fish are also the representation of unity, which comes from the fact that fish often swim in pairs.This is also the reason why the fish charms used in jewellery are often in pairs.
The fish is also a common symbol in Chinese literature.For example, the carp(鲤鱼) that were able to jump over the waterfall at the Loong Gate(Longmen) would change into loongs.The image of a carp jumping over the Loong Gate is an old and lasting Chinese cultural symbol for courage, perseverance(坚持不懈) and achievement.
In fact, each spring, carp gathered in great numbers in the pool at the base of the waterfall, but very few actually made the jump.It has become a common saying in China that a student facing the college entrance examination is like a carp trying to jump over the Loong Gate.
With the symbolism of good luck, fish, especially koi fish(锦鲤), have always been a common object in Chinese art.You can also often find fish art on Chinese ceramics(陶器), such as teapots, cups, jars and plates.