What is the custom and symbolism of carving bats on buildings?

The bat is a special animal, neither a bird nor a mouse, but a mammal capable of flying, belonging to the order Pterodactyla in zoology. In traditional Chinese decorative arts, the image of a bat is used as a symbol of happiness because the character for bat is pronounced the same way as the character for happiness, "fu".

Bats also symbolize good fortune. When five bats are carved on a building, it means five blessings: "long life", "wealth", "peace", "good virtue" and "good fortune". "and "good morals".

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Carving Bat Patterns:

The variations of bat patterns are quite rich, there are inverted bats, double bats, four bats holding the blessing of life, five bats and so on. The traditional pattern combines bats with the character for longevity, which is said to be five bats holding longevity. The five blessings are: one day of life, two days of wealth, three days of peace and quiet, four days to fix the virtue, five days to end the life of the test.

The combination of bats and cloud pattern, the name of the day Hongfuqitian; bats, Shoushan stone plus Ruyi or Ganoderma lucidum, the name of the day peace as you wish. Fukushou Ruyi pattern, two Ruyi cloud brackets in the lower part of the woven gold Shou character, under the bracket is a bat flying backwards. Longevity pattern, the deer cleverly painted into a ball shape, the north negative Ruyi Ganoderma holding the word of life, the word of life decorated with wings flying between the bats, the composition is very simple and generous.