Double Happiness (calligraphy)

Double happiness on woven mat.

Double Happiness (simplified Chinese: 双喜; traditional Chinese: 雙喜; pinyin: shuāngxǐ) sometimes translated as Double Happy, is an oriental Chinese ornament design, commonly used as a decoration and symbol of marriage. Outside of China, it is also used in United States, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Matches with double happiness

Characteristics

Double Happiness is a ligature, "囍" composed of 喜喜 – two copies of the Chinese characters 喜 (xǐ) literally means joy, compressed to assume the square shape of a standard Chinese character (much like a real character may consist of two parts), and is pronounced as a polysyllabic Chinese character, being read as 双喜 (shuāngxǐ).

Typically the character "囍" is written in Chinese calligraphy, and frequently appears on traditional decorative items, associated with the lunar new year celebrations. Double happiness symbol also often found all over the wedding ceremony, as well as on gift items given to the bride and groom. The color of the character is usually red, occasionally black.

In popular culture

Nowadays shuāngxǐ (alternative transcriptions, Shuang hsi) is used as a brand names for things like fashion, jewelry, cigarettes, matches, soy sauce, etc. It is also featured as decoration on many items by Chinese luxury brand Shanghai Tang.

Hong Kong lifestyle retail store G.O.D. designs many products themed with the double happiness symbol, including scented candles, accessories and Ming-inspired tableware and tea sets.[1][2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hong, Xinying (10 July 2012). "9 quirky finds at Goods of Desire". Her World Plus (Singapore Press Holdings). Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "G.O.D.: Tongue in cheek - Tongue-in-cheek designs inspired by Hong Kong culture". CNN Travel. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shuang xi.
Look up 囍 in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.