Figure of the deity Liu Hai and his toad

Motifs for Prosperity
The Chinese words for deer, official salary, benefits, and emoluments all share the same sound, lu. Images of the deer, for example, symbolize good wishes for a government title with a high rank and salary. Such symbols of prosperity and glory related to educated men serving or hoping to serve the court by passing the civil service examinations. , Liu Hai, the god of wealth, dances on his three-legged toad while waving a string of coins. The Chinese word for toad and frog, wa, is a pun for dig. Together with the images of Liu Hai and coins, the subject matter is associated with the desire for seeking wealth, as in digging for treasures.