The figurative aspect of Chinese decoration has been repeatedly noticed, and occasional examples of direct play upon words or rebus devices have been given incidentally. The Chinese language is peculiarly suited for punning allusions, one sound having to do duty for many characters; but it is obvious that a fair knowledge of the characters is required for reading these rebus designs. There is, however, a certain number of stock allusions with which the collector can easily make himself familiar. The commonest of these is perhaps the bat (_fu_) which symbolises happiness (also pronounced _fu_ in Chinese). The Five Blessings (_wu fu_), which consist of longevity, riches, peacefulness and serenity, love of virtue and an end crowning the life, are suggested by five bats; and a further rebus is formed of red bats among cloud scrolls, reading _hung fu ch’i t’ien_, “great happiness equally heaven” (_t’ien_); _hung_ being the sound of the character for “great, vast,” as well as for red, and red being, so to speak, the colour of happiness in Chinese eyes. Other common rebus designs are suggested by such words as _lu_ (deer), _lu_ (preferment); _yü_ (fish), _yü_ (abundance); _ch’ing_ (sounding stone), _ch’ing_ (good luck); _ch’ang_ (the intestinal knot), _ch’ang_ (long); and the composition of the rebus phrase often includes such ideas as _lien_ (lotus), _lien_ (connect, combine); _tieh_ (butterfly), _tieh_ (to double). But almost every sound in the Chinese spoken language represents a considerable number of characters, and it would be possible with a little ingenuity to extract several rebus sentences out of any complicated decoration. It is well to remember, however, that most of the ordinary allusions have reference to some good wish or felicitous phrase bearing on the five blessings, on the three abundances or on literary success. To quote a few further instances: the design of nine (_chiu_) lions (_shih_) sporting with balls (chü) of brocade has been read[521] _chiu shih t’ung chü_, “a family of nine sons living together.” An elephant (_hsiang_) carrying a vase (_p’ing_) on its back (_pei_) is read[522] _hsiang pei tai p’ing,_ “Peace (p’ing) rules in the north (_pei_).” A tub full of green wheat is read[523] _i t’ung ta ch’ing_, “the whole empire (owns) the great Ch’ing dynasty.” Three crabs holding reeds is read[524] _san p’ang hsieh ch’uan lu_, “three generations gaining the first class at the metropolitan examinations.” Two pigeons perched on a willow tree is read[525] _êrh pa_ (_k’o_) _t’eng t’ê_, “at eighteen to be successful in examinations.”