Gold fish

The gold fish is much like by the Chinese and commonly kept in pond and bowls.  It is an auspicious symbol as in chinese it is prounounced as jin yu ( 金鱼 ) which is a homophone for gold and jade （金玉）or gold in abundance　（金余）.　　Hence, it symbolises wealth.  Since Song Dynasty, the phrase jin yu man tang (金玉满堂），hall full with gold and jade, was used on Chinese ceramics to convey a wish of wealth and prosperity.  During the Qing Dynasty, instead of using the phrase, its meaning is conveyed by gold fish.