The Character Lu

Lu is "official's salary in feudal China"-- that is, a position in the civil service, one of the most desired jobs in old China. The Confucian system of study followed by examination and placement holds sway in all Chinese-based cultures to this day, including Japan. It was certainly a key to "prosperity."

  The "Lu" Culture

Deriving from the word fu, lu has the connotation of pursuing fame and social status. According to Shuo Wen Jie Zi (Notes on Language and Characters), lu is the equivalent of fu.

During the Shang (16-11th century BC) and Zhou (11th-256 BC) periods, receiving royal titles was considered to be fu, and getting kings' favors was considered to be lu .

In feudal society, people with the highest royal positions earned higher salary, hence leading to the saying "High office and high lu (pay)." So the two main themes of the lu culture was to gain high position in the royal rank and pass the Imperial Examinations to climb the royal ladder.

It was most intellectuals' dream to obtain an inheritable position in ancient China. Many paintings, such as "Five Sons Pass Imperial Examinations," illustrate the desire of people long ago to reach lu.

In feudal society, a position in the royal palace would directly affect one's income and social status, so promotion, high position, and power became what royal officers yearned for badly. Intellectuals always associated hard study with being an official. Confucius said: "Study hard, lu will be seen." The idea enlightened intellectuals for generations. Plus, passing the Imperial Examination would earn the benefits of royal income and rations, high social status, honor to ancestors, and a luxurious lifestyle. Small wonder that a saying plainly related the advantage of studying with money and career: "Books ensure pretty women and golden dwelling."

In many lu paintings and designs, deer skin became a typical symbol of the lu culture and was used to decorate study halls in thousands of households. Designs like "Three Promotions in a Roll", and "Five Sons Pass Imperial Examinations" are also some examples of the lu Culture.

  Star of Longevity, Shou Xing

Shou Xing is perhaps the most popular of the three stars, and is often portrayed alone. Legend says that Shou Xing spent nine years in the womb, and born with an extraordinarily large forehead. His mother saw the star of the South Pole the night he was conceived; this star is said to determine the time of a person's death, so Shou Xing is often called "The Old Deity of the South Pole."

Shou Xing is usually seen holding the Peach of Immortality, and carrying a peach wood staff. Legendary says that the celestial peach was the Queen of Heaven’s favorite fruit, which blossomed once ever 3,000 years with it taking another 3,000 year for the peach tree to bear fruit. Thus a bite of the celestial peach could gain longevity.

In typical illustrations of Shou Xing, a crane, a bat, a deer, or some combination of these may be near him, though they are sometimes associated with the other two stars ("deer" is a homophone of the character for Lu's name).

  The Character Shou

Shou is unambiguously "longevity."