The Chinese New Year celebration can be seen as a grand theatrical performance centered around the deep-rooted culture of blessings, known as fu (福).
The Lunar New Year is one of the most significant festive periods for the Chinese people. The celebrations begin with purchasing New Year’s goods, followed by house cleaning, hangingred couplets, and the much-anticipated family reunion dinner. Traditions such as staying up all night on New Year’s Eve, giving out lucky money, exchanging New Year’s greetings, and watching dragon and lion dances are observed across generations. Worshiping deities and ancestors, lighting firecrackers and fireworks, offering incense in temples, attending temple fairs, playing gongs and drums, and admiring lantern displays add to the jubilant atmosphere. However, beneath all these customs lies a common theme — the desire to pray for blessings (fu).
The ancient concept of fu blessings
The earliest recorded concept of blessings appears in the ancient Chinese text Shangshu Hongfan, which defines five types of blessings: longevity, wealth, health, good virtue, and a peaceful old age. These five blessings have been passed down through generations and remain central to Chinese culture today. This belief gave rise to the well-known phrase, “five blessings arriving at the door” (wufu linmen).
In old Beijing, it was common to see patterns of five bats decorating the doors of traditional courtyard homes. This is because the Chinese word for “bat” (蝠, fú) is a homophone of “blessing” (福, fú), making the five bats a symbolic representation of the five blessings entering one’s home.
Fu as a reflection of virtue
The word fu (福) embodies traditional Chinese values. According to the Book of Changes (I Ching): “A gentleman carries the world with great virtue” — meaning that true blessings come to those who cultivate moral integrity. The other four blessings — longevity, wealth, health, and a peaceful old age — are not guaranteed without good virtue. On the contrary, if a person lacks virtue and engages in wrongdoing, their blessings will gradually diminish.
This is why older generations often emphasize that good virtue is the most important among all the blessings. Acts of kindness, generosity, and righteousness are seen as the greatest blessings of all.
In traditional Chinese society, marriage was not solely based on individual compatibility, but also on the harmony of family values and lifestyles. This principle reflected the belief that a well-matched union was essential for ensuring a life of harmony and prosperity.
The evolution of fu in Chinese culture
Over thousands of years, the simple wish for happiness has evolved into a unique culture, encompassing blessings in folklore, the worship of the Fu God, traditional customs, auspicious sayings, and philosophical beliefs surrounding the concept of fu.
The Chinese character 福 (fu), representing blessings, is perhaps the most cherished character in Chinese history. Its origins can be traced back to oracle bone inscriptions from the Shang Dynasty. In these ancient inscriptions, the left component of fu (示) resembles an altar, symbolizing reverence for deities. Next to it, the component (酉) represents a wine jar, with two hands offering it in worship. This primitive form of the character conveys the act of presenting wine to the gods in hopes of receiving divine protection and prosperity.
Since ancient times, the idea of blessings has been deeply intertwined with the belief that a righteous and virtuous life attracts good fortune. When one lives with integrity and goodwill, blessings naturally follow.
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