Can decorative objects increase one's wealth, happiness, or longevity? Traditionally, many Chinese have believed that they could--as long as they included the appropriate auspicious symbols. In this book former Asian Art Museum curator of Himalayan and Chinese decorative art Terese Tse Bartholomew, culminating decades of research, provides a thorough guide to such symbols.

"Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art" is richly illustrated with photographs of art objects and original hand-painted drawings by the author and by Mulan Bartholomew, organized in numbered sectors for ease of reference, and enhanced with extensive bilingual indexes and other supporting materials, making it an indispensable reference book for anyone interested in Chinese art and culture.