fenghou

The demon-faced like figure in the above picture is the God of Literature, Kui Xing. He is usually depicted with one foot on the head of a carp (or dragon or back of a big turtle) which is emerging from waves. He holds in one hand a brush and the other, a cake of ink. He is widely worshipped by those who are seeking office or success in public examination.
The congratulatory phrase du zhan ao tou means achieving first in the metroplitan examination. Literally, it can be translated as (du zhan) standing alone, (ao tou) on the head of the turtle.
In ancient China, the top 3 candidates in the metroplitan examination are given an audience with the emperor. During the audience, the top candidate would stand alone on one of the steps leading to the throne. On that step is curved a turtle-like creature. That is how the phrase "du zhan ao tou" originated.
On decorated ceramics, besides the above pictorial representation, the kui xing may be substituted with a scholar on a carp (refer to the description of transformation of carp to dragon).

The congratulatory phrase ma shang feng hou means getting a promotion to a high appointment immediately.
The words "ma shang" means straight away or immediately. However, it also can mean "on the horse" and is represented as such on the above motif. The words "feng hou" means "being confer the rank of a marquis". In chinese, marquis and monkey share the same pronunciation "hou". The monkey above is used to allude to marquis.


	The demon-faced like figure in the above picture is the God of Literature, Kui Xing. He is usually depicted with one foot on the head of a carp (or dragon or back of a big turtle) which is emerging from waves. He holds in one hand a brush and the other, a cake of ink. He is widely worshipped by those who are seeking office or success in public examination. The congratulatory phrase du zhan ao tou means achieving first in the metroplitan examination. Literally, it can be translated as (du zhan) standing alone, (ao tou) on the head of the turtle. In ancient China, the top 3 candidates in the metroplitan examination are given an audience with the emperor. During the audience, the top candidate would stand alone on one of the steps leading to the throne. On that step is curved a turtle-like creature. That is how the phrase "du zhan ao tou" originated. On decorated ceramics, besides the above pictorial representation, the kui xing may be substituted with a scholar on a carp (refer to the description of transformation of carp to dragon).


	The congratulatory phrase ma shang feng hou means getting a promotion to a high appointment immediately. The words "ma shang" means straight away or immediately. However, it also can mean "on the horse" and is represented as such on the above motif. The words "feng hou" means "being confer the rank of a marquis". In chinese, marquis and monkey share the same pronunciation "hou". The monkey above is used to allude to marquis.