Inspired by centuries-old symbols of luck and good fortune, this beautifully illustrated 1000 piece puzzle, by a young Eurasian artist, brings together a meticulously curated collection of auspicious objects - each chosen for it's meaning, beauty, and story.
1. Paper Lantern
Chinese paper lanterns are iconic symbols of joy, vitality, and good fortune, predominantly used during festivals to banish bad luck and attract prosperity. In this example, a lattice design is depicted - often inspired by traditional window screens, these represent an open mind or invite good fortune into the home.
2. Bronze Pixiu with Gold Coins
Pixiu (貔貅) statues are powerful Chinese feng shui symbols of wealth attraction, protection, and good fortune, often depicted as winged lions with dragon heads. Renowned for having a large mouth and no anus, they symbolise consuming immense wealth without letting it escape. Popular for housewarming or business congratulatory gifts, to extract maximum fortune you should place statues facing windows or doors, rather than mirrors, toilets, or beds. Gold coins represent wealth, while the red thread amplifies the energy of the coins and symbolises fire, joy, and fortune.
3. Peonies
Renowned in Chinese culture as the "King of Flowers”, peonies symbolise prosperity, wealth, honour, and high social status. As symbols of good fortune, they are frequently used in art, home decor, and during the Lunar New Year to attract fortune and happiness. Popular in wedding traditions, these blooms symbolise love, romance, and a happy marriage.
4. Mandarins
Mandarin oranges are a primary Chinese symbol of good fortune, prosperity, and wealth, particularly during the Lunar New Year, due to their golden colour and auspicious homophones. Their Cantonese/Mandarin words sound like "luck" (吉, jí) and "gold" (金, jīn), making them essential for gifting, decorating, and attracting positive energy. Mandarins with stems and leaves are favoured, as they symbolise longevity, fertility, and the "bearing of fruit”.
5. Koi Paper Lantern
In Chinese culture, koi symbolise good fortune, prosperity, abundance, and perseverance, often representing the ability to overcome obstacles. Rooted in the legend of swimming upstream to become a dragon, they are considered powerful feng shui emblems for attracting success and wealth.
6. Wok
Used in feng shui to represent wholeness and togetherness for its rotund shape, the wok is often placed outside homes so that misfortune 'bounces off' the roundness.
7. Feng Shui Mirror
A potent tool used to attract prosperity and protect against negative energy, these mirrors should be placed to reflect beautiful views, natural light, or dining tables to double wealth while avoiding positions directly facing the front door, bedrooms, or cluttered areas. Featuring an octagonal frame with eight trigrams representing nature's forces, they are typically hung to beckon good luck, prosperity, and harmony into a home or business.
8. Orchids
In Chinese culture, orchids symbolise abundance, fertility, refinement, and luxury, making them highly popular for good fortune during the Lunar New Year and often gifted to bring good luck, happiness, and prosperity to the home. They represent integrity, modesty, and elegance, often associated with scholarly and gentle personalities. As one of the "Four Gentlemen" (along with bamboo, plum blossom, and chrysanthemum), the orchid is associated with nobility and high moral integrity.
9. Blue & White Vase
Chinese blue and white vases are usually rich with symbols of good fortune, often featuring motifs like fish (abundance), lotus/peony (purity/wealth), and dragons/phoenixes (power/prosperity). Other popular designs include bats (fortune), pine trees (longevity), and the character 壽 / 寿‘shou’ (long life), which became iconic during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
10. Calligraphy Brushes
Traditional brushes often feature horsehair bristles and carved handles, sometimes decorated with auspicious symbols like dragons (representing power). Used to write messages on red paper during festivals, calligraphy for good fortune can range from minimalist ink paintings to elaborate, decorative styles. These artworks are then displayed on doors and walls to invite good luck.
11. Bamboo
A popular feng shui item symbolising luck, resilience, and prosperity, the number of stalks of bamboo dictates the type of luck required. In this case of only a single stalk: good fortune and a simple, prosperous life. Placed in the eastern or southeastern part of a home or office, bamboo is believed to activate positive energy (‘chi’), enhance wealth, and foster a peaceful environment.
12. Laisee Packets
The purpose of these “lucky packets” are to pass on a blessing and good fortune from seniors to juniors. Most often containing money, they symbolise a wish for prosperity, with the red colour acting to ward off evil spirits. Common symbols on packets include the character ‘fúk / fu’ (福) for good fortune, the Chinese dragon, phoenix, zodiac animals, and gold lettering for prosperity. Typically gifted during Lunar New Year by married individuals to youth, and to married couples on their wedding day (like the example here of the “double happiness” - 囍 - character on the first packet), they are also used in lieu of gifts for birthdays and special occasions. The second laisee packet illustrated here says “大吉大利" - meaning always lucky and smooth prosperity - directly translates to "big luck big prosperity”.
13. Silk Knot
Chinese silk knots are ancient decorative handicrafts symbolising prosperity, unity, and longevity. Traditionally crafted from red silk, these intricate knots represent "boundless luck" and are commonly used as gifts to ward off evil and convey blessings. Tied around the neck of the pomelo, this silk knot represents joy, vitality, and celebration: believed to attract good fortune and repel negative energy.
14. Pomelo
The pomelo is a major Chinese symbol of fortune, prosperity, and family unity- especially during Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Its name is a homophone for "to have" (有, yǒu) and "protection" (佑, yòu), signaling abundance and safety. Its round shape represents completeness and its fragrant rind signifies lasting prosperity. Often used for “ritual baths”, the pomelo leaves are boiled to make a wash for cleaning houses or bathing to wash away bad luck.
15. Abacus
The Chinese abacus is a potent feng shui symbol representing wealth, prosperity, and meticulous financial management. It acts as a "calculation tool" for prosperity, designed to ensure that income exceeds expenditures. Historically used by merchants, it represents smart, quick-thinking business strategies.
16. Panel Depicting Pine Trees
Pine is one of the most popular designs in Chinese decorative art. Because pine is an evergreen tree, it is a common symbol of long life. Called the "Three Friends of Winter” - along with bamboo and plum - pine trees are admired for staying green during winter, symbolising longevity and steadfastness and strength in the face of hardship because it does not wither during difficult winters.
17. Chinese Papercut
One of the most important types of Chinese folk art, these intricate pieces are usually made of red paper (as red is associated with festivities and luck in Chinese culture) and are popular at festivals such as Lunar New Year, weddings and childbirth since this form of artwork is considered to symbolise good luck and happiness.
18. Red Silk Lantern featuring a Koi
Red lanterns in Chinese culture symbolise joy, good fortune, prosperity, and vitality, often used to celebrate, welcome guests, and ward off evil spirits. They are traditionally displayed during the Lunar New Year, weddings, and festivals, representing family reunion and a brighter future. This one depicts a fish because, in Chinese, the character for fish sounds like "surplus" or "abundance", making fish a universal symbol for having more than enough.
19. Paper Rabbit Lantern
Iconic and timeless, these paper lanterns bought during the Mid-Autumn Festival - often with little wheels allowing them to be pulled along by a string - are as nostalgic as they are beautiful. The rabbit is said to represent the moon, gentleness, quick wit, and longevity. These lanterns are not only decorations but are believed to guide, protect, and bring good fortune to families, particularly children, for the year ahead.
20. Cherry Blossom
Cherry blossoms are most often associated with Spring - especially the Lunar New Year - because they signify a time of renewal and are used in feng shui to bring good luck, blessings, and health. In Chinese lore it was believed that the magical Phoenix slept on a bed of cherry blossom to bless it with ever-lasting life. Having the branches in your home (and decorating them with various decorative symbols as seen on this puzzle) represents the transient nature of life, as their short blooming period serves as a reminder to appreciate life's beauty in the moment.
21. Cherry Tree
In art the Cherry Tree’s splendour is steeped in magic, mystery and mythology symbolising feminine beauty, power, love, and sexuality, while also representing romantic, fresh, and new beginnings. The delicate beauty of the cherry tree's blossom and branches in contrast with its strength is a common theme in literature and art, encouraging appreciation of life. As a result of their association with prosperity and the colour red, cherries are popular as decorations and gifts - especially around festivals.
22. Panel Depicting Bats
Powerful symbols of good fortune, happiness, and longevity,the word for bat (蝠, fú/fuk) is a homophone for good fortune or blessing (福, fú/fuk). Widely used in art, embroidery, ceramics and architecture to attract luck, bats often appear as a group of five, known as the “Wu Fu” (Five Blessings - health, wealth, longevity, love of virtue, and a peaceful death) or upside down/ inverted because the word 倒
for "upside down" (dào) sounds like "arriving" (dào), thus signifying "happiness is arriving".
23. Bronze Crane
A premier symbol of longevity, good fortune, and immortality - second only to the mythical phoenix - cranes represent a long, blessed life, wisdom, and nobility. Frequently appearing in art, embroidery, and wedding decor to signify fidelity and enduring happiness (since cranes are monogamous and mate for life they are symbols of love, loyalty, and marital bliss), these beautiful birds are a highly auspicious, positive symbol in Chinese culture. Known as the "patriarch of feathered creatures", cranes are believed to live for thousands of years, embodying eternal life and a long, healthy life.
24. The Laughing Buddha
A beloved Chinese symbol of joy, prosperity, and contentment, The Laughing Buddha is based on a 10th-century monk believed to be an incarnation of Maitreya. His large belly symbolises abundance and happiness, and rubbing it is said to bring good fortune! Depicted on this puzzle with a gold ingot to enhance wealth, abundance, and financial luck, placing him in the central location of our illustration promotes joy, positivity, and harmony!
25. Chrysanthemum
As one of the “Four Gentlemen" (along with bamboo, plum blossom, and orchid) they represent endurance, vitality, and a tranquil, prosperous life. Because they bloom late in the season despite the cold, chrysanthemum also symbolise longevity, rejuvenation, and noble virtue. Often representing autumn (particularly central to the ‘Double Ninth Festival' on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month where drinking chrysanthemum wine is traditional for long life), yellow chrysanthemums - such as the ones depicted on this puzzle - are associated with fortune and wealth.
26. Gold Ingots
Yuanbao (元寶 / 元宝), are powerful traditional symbols of immense wealth, prosperity, and good fortune, often displayed during Chinese New Year to represent a prosperous year ahead. These shoe-shaped ingots, derived from ancient currency, are used to attract luck and symbolise high status and monetary health. Placed in the home - especially on desks or in wealth corners - they are believed to boost fortune.
27. Gold Coins with Red Thread
These are powerful feng shui amulets for wealth, protection, and prosperity, often featuring the round-with-square-hole design symbolising Heaven and Earth. Tied with red string or thread, they blend metal energy (coins) with fire energy (red) to boost good luck. Commonly used as charms, they are hung on walls, doors, or carried in wallets. Believers of feng shui strive for a balanced display of The Five Elements of Nature: Wood (or bamboo), Earth (rocks/pebbles), Water (for growth), Fire (usually a red thread), and Metal (a metal coin).
28. Twin Koi Plate
A pair of koi represent harmony, marital happiness, and balanced energy (‘yin and yang’) as well as perseverance - often due to legends of them climbing waterfalls - and are common symbols for attracting abundance and success in business and marriage.
29. Dragon Turtle
This hybrid, with a dragon's head and a turtle's body, is a potent feng shui symbol that combines the dragon's strength with the turtle's endurance to attract wealth, career success, and protection. The Linggui (靈龜 / 灵龟, "Spirit Turtle" or "Divine Turtle") - as one of the "Four Intelligent Beasts" (四靈) or Four Sacred Animals - along with the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin - is considered the chief among all shelled creatures. Because of its long lifespan, the Dragon Turtle is a key symbol for a long, healthy life, often referenced in the phrase ‘guī líng hè suàn’ (龜齡鶴算 / 龟龄鹤算), meaning "[May you live] as long as the tortoise and the stork”.
30. Lotus Flower
In Chinese culture, the water lotus is a premier symbol of beauty, and good fortune, blooming from mud to represent rising above adversity and having purity of heart and mind. The Mandarin word for lotus (he 荷) is a homophone for harmony (he 和), making it a symbol of a peaceful home and life, marital bliss (the lotus rootstalk - ou 藕 - sounds similar to the word for a "married couple” - ou 偶-, making it a symbol of a long, happy marriage) and spiritual enlightenment, often used in art to attract peace, prosperity, and blessings of abundance.
31. 麵 Noodle Book
Noodles - especially Longevity Noodles (Chángshòu Miàn - 長壽麵
/ 长寿面) - are a primary symbol of good fortune in Chinese culture, representing long life, health, and prosperity. Served uncut to avoid shortening the blessing, they are a staple during birthdays and Lunar New Year to promise a smooth, continuous future - the longer the noodle, the greater the blessing!
32. Foo Dogs
Foo Dogs, or Chinese Guardian Lions, are powerful symbols of protection, prosperity, and high status, traditionally flanking entrances to guard against negative energy. They always appear in pairs - a male and female representing ‘yin and yang’ - to balance energy, protect the structure, and nurture inhabitants. The Male (Yang) is typically on the right (looking out), he rests his paw on an embroidered ball (or "pearl of wisdom"), representing control over the world, global supremacy, and protection of the building. The Female (Yin) is typically on the left (looking out), she holds a playful cub under her paw, representing nurturing, fertility, and protection of the people within.
33. Latticed Wooden Panel
Geometric patterns on Chinese homeware (like plaques, shelves and screens) and furniture (like cupboards and beds) often incorporate traditional, auspicious symbols, blending structural design with deep cultural meaning. Patterns frequently feature lattice, interlocking, or repeating shapes that represent continuity, wealth, and cosmic balance. Many examples can be seen in this puzzle.
34. Guanyin
Also known as Guan Yin or Kwan Yin, Guanyin (觀音 / 观音) is the Chinese Bodhisattva of Compassion and Mercy, revered as a source of good fortune, protection, and unconditional love. She is a central figure in Chinese Buddhism and feng shui, often associated with symbols that promote peace, health, and wealth. In this puzzle you can see a willow branch - symbolising the ability to bend without breaking - typically held in her right hand as depicted here - which is used to sprinkle the divine water of life, blessing devotees with peace. As also seen here, she is often seen sitting on a Lotus Flower symbolising purity, spiritual awakening, and rising above the "muddy waters" of life's challenges. Wearing a jade or gold Guanyin pendant is believed to provide protection, safety, and peace, acting as a reminder of her compassion.
35. Most Difficult Chinese Character : “Biang”
The "biang" character is onomatopoeic, meant to mimic the sound of noodle dough hitting a counter. It is also more complex to write than any character in the Chinese language, with an incredible 58 strokes! Fun fact : the character doesn't actually exist - at least, not according to official dictionaries - because the character is entirely a folk creation made up of many different characters including “silk”, “horse” and “long". It's unclear exactly how this complex character originated, but its creation is steeped in legend. The most popular story credits it to a young scholar from the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) who didn't have enough money for his bowl of "biang biang" noodles and offered to invent a character in lieu of payment. Today, there are many quirky poems and riddles which can be recited to help recall all of the complicated character's 58 strokes combining several radicals: 穴 (cave), 言 (speak), 幺 (tiny), 馬 (horse), 長 (grow), 月 (moon), 心 (heart), 刂 (knife), and 辶 (walk).
36. Red Paper Lantern
Iconically Chinese representing joy, vitality, and prosperity, red lanterns are frequently displayed during the Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival to bring good fortune, ward off evil spirits, and signify a thriving, bright future. The colour red signifies luck, while hanging them outside doors is a traditional practice for inviting fortune. In this example we can see the ‘fuk / fu’ (福) character - the most common symbol for good fortune or happiness - in a circle shape which attracts further blessings as round shapes symbolises wholeness and togetherness.
37. Mythical Qilin
The Qilin (麒麟) is a mythical hooved, chimerical creature in Chinese mythology, often called the "Chinese unicorn". It symbolises prosperity, serenity, and the imminent birth or death of a sage or illustrious ruler. It has a dragon-like head, deer-like body, scaly skin, ox-like tail, one or two horns, and a benevolent and peaceful disposition - so much so that it’s said the qilin walks with such grace that it does not trample grass or harm living vegetation. Appearing only during the reign of just rulers or the birth of great sages (like Confucius), it represents good fortune, fertility, and high rank.
38. Phoenix
The Chinese Phoenix, or Fenghuang (鳳凰 / 凤凰), is a mythical bird representing virtue, grace, and the union of ‘yin and yang’. Unlike the Western/Greek phoenix that rises from ashes, the Fenghuang symbolizes peace, prosperity, and high moral virtue. Historically, Feng was male and Huang was female, but later merged into a feminine creature. It is described as having a rooster’s beak, swallow’s face, snake’s neck, and a fish’s tail. The body parts represent Confucian virtues: head for virtue, wing for duty, back for propriety, abdomen for credibility, and chest for mercy. The Fenghuang's body also symbolises the celestial bodies: the head is the sky, the eyes are the sun, the back is the moon, the wings are the wind, the feet are the earth, and the tail is the planets.
39. Firecrackers
Traditional Chinese symbols of good fortune, firecrackers are used to scare away evil spirits, bad luck, and negative energy during celebrations like Lunar New Year when they signify cleansing and protection. The explosions are believed to bring happiness and start the new year with high energy because the loud noise and red colour represents joy, prosperity, and the welcoming of good luck while awakening protective deities.
40. Pagodas
Representing wisdom, longevity, and stability, pagodas are often used to foster educational luck, career advancement, and protection against negative energy. These structures symbolise the journey toward spiritual elevation and the dissemination of sacred knowledge and are said to represent a link between earth and heaven.
41. Waving Cat
A popular figurine - often used in businesses and homes - that symbolises good fortune, prosperity, and a welcoming of customers. While commonly seen in Chinese establishments, it actually originates from 17th century Japan. It is believed that the right paw brings money and luck, while the left paw - often mechanically waving in a “come hither” gesture - beckons customers. The cat often wears a bib and bell, symbolizing protection and prosperity. It may hold a gold coin, often with Chinese or Japanese phrases for fortune.
42. Inverted Fuk Character (倒福)
A pun where the "upside-down" (dào) character sounds like "arrived" (dào), implying fortune has arrived. Using a diamond or rhombus frame for the character enhances the power according to feng shui principles.
43. Mandarin Duck
Mandarin ducks are powerful symbols of lifelong marital fidelity, love, and good fortune, traditionally depicted in pairs (in our puzzle the second duck is out of the frame) to represent conjugal harmony. As a profound cultural emblem, they represent a lifelong connection (since they are known to mate for life), and are frequently gifted at weddings to wish couples enduring love and blessings.
44. Clouds
Auspicious clouds, or Xiangyun (祥雲 / 祥云), are traditional Chinese symbols representing good luck, abundance, and the heavens, characterised by stylised, swirling, or wavy shapes - many of which can be seen on this puzzle. Associated with divine realms and the "Will of Heaven," these motifs represent blessings, peace, and the promise of a harmonious life. The Chinese word for cloud, “yún", is a homonym for "good fortune" (yùn), marking them as carriers of luck.
45. Jade Carving
In Chinese culture, jade is often referred to as the "Stone of Heaven" symbolising purity, virtue, and immortality. The stone's unique texture and vibrant green colour (symbolising health, harmony, and prosperity) have made it highly sought after, especially for crafting intricate jewellery and ornamental pieces. Jade is traditionally passed down through generations, strengthening its protective and lucky properties. In this puzzle, the jade carving merges the dragon’s strength, prosperity, and authority with jade’s purity, wisdom, and protective qualities. A popular talisman and gift, it is believed to attract good fortune, guard against negative energy, and bestow longevity and success on the recipient. As a blend of Earth (jade) and Heaven (dragon), the jade dragon represents wisdom and harmony between the celestial and mortal realms.
46. Jade Ornament with Calabash Gourds
Jade statues with gold gourds frequently combine hand-carved natural jade - in green or yellow - with 18K gold accents. Often used as feng shui ornaments for good luck, protection, and success, these carvings are used to invite good luck into the home or office. In Chinese culture, the calabash bottle gourd is believed to harbour medicinal properties and represent the absorption of negative energy to promote health and prosperity.
47. Necklace
Jade has been used in many cultures as a talisman to bring good fortune and protect its wearer from harm. Chinese believe jade attracts positive energy and wards off evil spirits. As a result, jade jewellery is often gifted during special occasions, such as weddings or birthdays, to bring good fortune to the recipient. The artist, Cloe, chose these special colours to be lucky for her Dog zodiac sign this year.
48. Golden Dragon with Waves
Representing powerful feng shui symbolism, this statue combines “yang" energy, prosperity, and strength. The golden dragon is a supreme symbol of power, wealth, prosperity, and imperial authority, while the waves signify life, vitality, and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities. Best placed in the east part of a home or office to maximise its auspicious energy!
49.Tang Horse
A highly revered symbol in Chinese culture, representing power, wealth, freedom, and rapid success. Originating from the prosperous Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), these stylised, robust horses are often used in feng shui to bring positive energy, momentum, and auspicious blessings, particularly with the arrival of the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse! These Tang horses are often depicted with a "sancai” three-colour glaze (typically amber, green, and cream), symbolising the luxury, stability, and high status of the era.
50. Plum Flowers
One of the so-called “Four Gentlemen” (四君子), in Chinese culture the Plum Blossom is a symbol of good fortune, resilience, and perseverance, largely because it blooms vibrantly during the cold winter, often in snow. It is highly regarded as a positive omen, signalling the arrival of spring, renewal, and the promise of prosperity.