Vase with magpies and plum tree, one of a pair

喜臨天下
Motifs for Happiness

The character for joy or happiness (xi 喜) is associated with pleasant events, such as weddings and the arrival of newborn sons. Throughout Chinese history, boys were regarded as vital to the preservation of the patriliny, because they would carry on the family name and continue to worship ancestors. In imperial society, men of the educated class sacrificed their childhood for the study of the classics, and their success in the civil service exams brought the greatest imaginable joy to the family.