Wall hanging with a motif of boys at play

Textiles of this type were usually hung in bridal chambers. Together, the motifs on this example imply a wish for the newlyweds to be blessed with numerous sons who will become high achievers and pass their civil service examinations with honors. The end pieces each contain a row of dragons between two rows of phoenixes, these designs being interspersed with longevity motifs such as chrysanthemums, Buddha's hand citrons, and peaches. In the main area, in rows with alternating designs, are depicted boys at play. One design depicts two boys under a pine tree, one of the boys carrying a mouth organ (sheng, which sounds like the word for "giving birth") and a branch of osmanthus blossoms (guihua; "flower of nobility"); this motif forms the auspicious phrase "continuous birth of noble sons" (liansheng guizi). The other boy carries a lotus and a box, which convey wishes for a harmonious marriage. The second design shows a boy holding aloft a helmet; he is surrounded by four other boys under an osmanthus tree (guish aditional motif—"five boys competing for a helmet" (wuzi duokui)—the helmet is a pictorial pun for a boy coming in first in the civil service examination. The five boys represent the five sons of the scholar Dou Yujun (approx. 907–960), all of whom succeeded in passing the examination.