Fish as a gift

[sherab]

Hello. I want to offer a gift to my Tai Ji teacher in U.K. She is from China. I don't know why but I felt I want to give her a "decorative" fish, actually made from some kind of stringlike fabric.Then I had a "Google" about the symbolism, and it seems generally to indicate - harmony ?

I just wanted to check here (just found your forum today) to make sure it will be a suitable gift in the sense of not open to any negative or inappropriate meaning.

Thank you

[skylee]

I think it is all right.

I once gave my boss (both of us are Chinese) a papier mache rooster bought in Cashmere India. It was actually quite ugly IMO though the colours were not bad. My boss accepted it, and told me that she was born in the year of rooster (I didn't know it).

[jbradfor]

I'm not sure about giving a fish, but giving of objects with fish motif are certainly common.

Then I had a "Google" about the symbolism, and it seems generally to indicate - harmony ?

I believe the symbolism is "plenty", as in not running out, not lacking for things, have enough. The Chinese character for fish (魚) is pronounced the same as plenty (余), at least in Mandarin.