Crane

The crane is an auspicious taoist symbol of longevity.  It is the constant companion of the God of Longevity, shoulou.  It is common in ancient tales to describe a deity arriving on a crane.  A person's attainment of immortality is confirmed when he transformed into a crane when departing from this world. According to the Sou Xian Ji ( 搜仙记）, Ding Ling wei (丁令威）a taoist practitioner, after 1000 years of cultivation transformed himself into a crane and departed for heaven.  Before leaving, he perched on a tombstone near the gate of his native town and sang: 'A bird there is and that is Ding Ling Wei; His home he left a thousand ears ago; Its walls unchanged, its folks now turned to clay; For better to be a xian (ie immortal) than moulder so.'

Even till this day, when a person has deceased in a Chinese society, it is common for relative or friend to send condolence on banner with the phrase Jia he xi gui (驾鹤西归), ie return to Eastern paradise on a crane.

Common designs includes crane in cloud, crane with other symbols of longevity such as shoulou, pine tree, deer and lingzhi fungus.

There is also a deeper meaning when the design include a crane and deer.  　The design is termed liu he tong chun (六合同春).  In chinese deer with crane sounds like liu he (六合), referring to all the directions in the universe.  The design means spring prevails under heaven and all things on earth are flourishing.  This is particularly obvious if the design also includes some plants/flowers of spring.

Another interesting design includes 6 cranes flying among clouds.  6 cranes is hormophonous with liu he (六合), which means the inclusion of the six directions (heaven (乾），　earth (坤), north, south, east, west) ie the whole universe.  The design is termed qian kun liu he (乾坤六合).  Hence, the design is representation of the whole universe.