Posted 01/04/2012 11:56 pm
Quote:
can anyone tell me what this is. thanks
can anyone tell me what this is. thanks
It's a charm.
My guess is that it is actually Korean rather than Chinese.
If you look closely you will notice that there are two bats (the flying animal) facing each other with their heads touching the square hole and their wings curved forward and touching each other.
In East Asian cultures, the bat is considered an auspicious symbol because in Chinese the word for "bat" has the same pronunciation as the word for "good fortune" or "happiness".
I do not know the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese characters so I am providing the Chinese pronunciation.
In the first image, the inscription is read clockwise beginning at the upper left as fu gui duo nan which translates as "wealth, honor and many sons".
The inscription in the second image is read clockwise beginning at the lower right as shou fu kang ning which means "longevity, good fortune, health and composure".
Gary
