The Hundred Antiques (Hundred Treasures)
- and what they symbolizes
The Hundred Antiques is a miscellaneous or general collection of emblematic forms comprising the Eight Treasures, the Four Treasures, the symbols of Four Fine Arts (music, chess, calligraphy, and painting) together with numerous conventional representations of sacrificial vessels, flowers, animals etc.
- Books - symbols of learning and one of the Four Signs of a Scholar.
- Brush Holder - scholarly attainments.
- Brushes - one of the Four Signs of a Scholar.
- Brush, Gilded Ink Cake and Scepter - a rebus meaning of May Your Wishes be Fulfilled.
- Checkering - chess - symbols of learning and one of the Four Signs of a Scholar.
- Coral Carving - longevity, official promotion. Officials of the 2nd Grade wore a hat Button of Coral.
- Flowers - beauty and harmony.
- Hand Drum or Daogu - movement and ritual music.
- Incense Burner - ancestral worship.
- Lute or Qin - marital bliss, suppression of lust. One of the Four Signs of a Scholar.
- Mirror - heals those who become mad from the sight of a demon or spirit.
- Money Quin - Images of Chinese money including metal coins, gold bars and paper money are regulary seen in Chinese decorations.
- Painting of the God of Longevity.
- Palm Leaf (Chiao Yeh) - self education.
- Peacock Plumes - represent official rank.
- Pipa or Chinese Guitar - determination of the mind, purity, and fidelity.
- Reed Mouth Organ or Sheng - symbol of the Phoenix and the assembly of the multitudes.
- Rhinoceros Horn Cup - symbolizes happiness.
- Scepter - symbol of Buddha, magical powers, prosperity.
- Scrolls - calligraphy, painting, and truth.
- Seal - Power and authority. The red impressions cure diseases when applied to open sores.
- Silver Shoe Ingot (Sycee) - denotes power and riches.
- Silkworms - emblem of industry.
- Stone for Grinding Ink - attribute of a scholar.
- Swords - wisdom, penetrating insight, victory over evil, superhuman power, magic and is the emblem of Lu Dongbin
- Teapot - tranquility
- Tripod - filial piety, an ancient ritual vessel.
- Umbrella, to cover Ten Thousand People - respect, purity, dignity, and high rank.
- Vase Ping - Symbol for peace since the word "vase" in Chinese sounds much like the word for "peace". Shown with a wide variety of plants and flowers, the vase gives rise to a broad field of symbolisms. As a receptable; a Daoist symbol for the female principle.
- Wine Cup - rank and ancestral worship.
- Wine Pot - warns about not to drink in excess.
