Chinese Character: Xi & Shuangxi (Happiness & Double Happiness)

The Chinese character xi, translated to happiness, is one of the most auspicious symbols cherished by the Chinese. Xi implicates joy, happiness or celebration. In everyday life, anything satisfactory and commemoratory is considered a xi event.

The once popular Four Xis Poem lists the four most xi events in the olden days: rain after a long draught; meeting unexpected friends in a strange country; candle-lit wedding nights; and winning the imperial civil-service exam. Other xi events include newborn children; moving to a new house; family reunions; harmonious marriages; abundant harvests; ample wealth; and holidays.

The core of xi is to pray for flourishing populations and prosperous families. In folk custom and celebrations, xi is a dominant main theme as in weddings, which need double xi and xi flowers. There are also many other images that symbolize xi, such as magpies, spiders, badgers, lilies, mandarin ducks and lovebirds.



When this symbol is doubled, we get the common character of shuangxi or "double happiness". Because of the "double" nature, symbolizing two, it is often found all over the wedding ceremony, as well as on gift items given to the bride and groom.

The character shuangxi is usually printed on the wedding invitation with the use of golden hot stamps. The symbol of Double Happiness is a declaration that the bride-to-be and the groom-to-be will be united. The symbol, which is composed of two standard Chinese characters used to signify "happiness", means that the couple and their families will now be "together".

The hong bao, the red envelopes containing money, given at weddings, often feature the shuangxi symbol. The color of the character is usually red, occasionally black.



Learn more about Jade & Chinese characters:

Chinese Character: Fu (Blessing)
Chinese Character: Lu (Prosperity)
Chinese Character: Shou (Longevity)
Chinese Character: Xi & Shuangxi (Happiness & Double Happiness)
Chinese Character: Cai (wealth)
Chinese Character: Ji (auspiciousness)
Chinese Character: Ai (Love)
Chinese Character: De (Virtue)
Chinese Character: Ning (Peace)