The Chinese Characters Collection
The Chinese collection showcases Chinese characters that symbolise historic beliefs.
The Chinese Zodiac Collection
In Chinese tradition, years are given names according to a twelve-year cycle in which each year represents one of the twelve animals which paid homage to the Buddha as he lay dying. It is believed that the characteristics of the animal after which each year is named are assumed by each person born within that year. These animals have positive and negative characteristics and the cycle can be used as a guide to help each individual recognise his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Within the cycle the greatest affinity is found among those born in multiples of four years apart (snake, rooster and ox; horse, dog and tiger; sheep, boar and rabbit; monkey, rat and dragon). The greatest conflict is found between those born in multiples of six years apart (snake and boar; horse and rat; sheep and ox; monkey and tiger; rooster and rabbit; dog and dragon).
In the Chinese calendar, each year begins at the lunar year, which falls on the day of the new moon in the late January-early February period.
The Chinese Good Wishes Collection
According to a Chinese saying, health, long life and happiness were all that anyone could wish for.