What are the characteristics of the decorative motifs of Song Dynasty jades?

The decorative motifs of Song Dynasty jades were greatly influenced by the flower and bird paintings of the Five Dynasties, and a large number of flower and bird motifs appeared, including peonies, begonias, sunflowers, lotus flowers, chrysanthemums, folding flowers, and peacocks, parrots, practicing magpies, pigeons, cranes, herons and geese. Influenced by ancient traditional thoughts and ethical and moral concepts as well as the popularization and secularization of jade, there are many auspicious patterns in the jade decorative themes of the Song Dynasty, including the combination of fish and lotus flower, which symbolizes "having a good fortune in successive years", the pine tree and the deer, which are symbols of longevity and wealth, the tortoise and crane, which indicate longevity, the begonia and the peony, and the lotus, which expresses the meaning of "noble character". The lotus flower expresses noble character. The organic combination of plants and animals as auspicious and beautiful subjects had a significant impact on the decoration of arts and crafts in later generations.

Song Skeletonized White Jade with Fortune and Longevity Unearthed on the West Side of Xi'an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi