My mom is somewhat a collector of Chinese antiques. I remember seeing vases and pictures depicting daily life of old China or portraits of gods. The images were very beautiful and very symbolic. Each flower, animal, or object meant something. Even numbers have meaning. While researching for my first story of 1999, coming this January, I discovered the number eight was very magical. It's an important number to both the Buddhist and the Taoist followers.

According to Buddhist tradition, there are eight holy items: Wheel of the Law, conch shell, umbrella, canopy (an outdoor tent-like structure), lotus blossom, vase, pair of fish, and a lucky knot. These items were supposedly pictured on bottom of Buddha's foot.

There are also eight treasures, symbolizing prosperity: two books tied together, a leaf, pair of horns, lozenge (a rhomboid shape, luckier if two were intertwined), a coin, a mirror, pearls, and a bell.

Lao-tzu was the founder of the religion, Taoism. He also wrote the book, "Tao Te Ching." In beautiful poetic form, this book described the philosophy and guidelines to the search of the Tao, or the Way. One set of gods is very famous to everyone, even to those not Taoist: The Eight Immortals. Some of these people were real, and some were mythical, but they all represent longevity and the ideal attributes of Taoist:

• · Chung-li Ch'uan, The leader of the group. He is a wise man, a sage, who holds either a peach or a fan, and is sometimes a messenger from Heaven
• · Li T'ieh-kuai, This wise beggar carries a crutch and a bag full of magic medicine
• · Lan Ts'ai-ho, The patron of florist. He carries either a bouquet of flowers or a basket of peaches.
• · Chang Kuo, He sits on a donkey and sometimes carries a baby to newly-weds
• · Ho Hsien Ku, A very beautiful woman, she holds a lotus blossom or a peach and sometimes plays a reed-organ
• · Lu Tung-pin, The patron of barbers. He always carries his magic sword in one hand and a fly swatter in the other (which represents the ability to fly through the air and walk on clouds).
• · Han Hsian Tzu, The patron of musicians. He sings and plays the flute
• · Ts'ao Ku-chiu, The patron of actors. He carries castanets
• · And although not considered as one of the Eight Immortals, Lao-tzu is sometimes seen with the group riding a buffalo and carrying a scepter and a scroll.

So when you look at Chinese art (figurines, dishes, pictures, even embroidered gowns), take a closer look and see the fine detail in the work the artist put in it. Many times, these artists will decorate their works with lucky symbols. You'll never know what you'll find till you look.