A mid-year journey through the 12 seasonal customs at Prince Kung's Palace Museum

Twelfth lunar month: Lucky puns at Prince Kung's Palace

As the twelfth lunar month arrives, the Chinese New Year is near and Prince Kung's Palace brims with festive preparations. From selecting fruits and delicacies to decorating rooms and preparing the family feast, every detail is infused with auspicious phrases and playful wordplay.

The Chinese New Year goods box, or cuan he, holding a ruyi scepter at its center, symbolizes the harmonious fulfillment of all wishes. The combination of peaches, a bat, and pomegranates conveys blessings of fortune, longevity, and many children. Chinese New Year cakes (nian gao) accompanied by a red goldfish represent continuous abundance and prosperity year after year. Persimmons paired with a ruyi scepter express the wish for everything in life to go smoothly and as desired.

A large square-mouthed vase (ping), a ruyi scepter with a red tassel (sui), and apples (ping guo), together symbolize peace and fulfillment of wishes year after year.

Butterflies, nurtured through the winter, are ceremoniously released from an ornate box. Their graceful fluttering and alighting upon melons and flowers resonate with the theme of a flourishing family and an unbroken lineage.

May you have good luck in the new year, and joy and harmony for the whole family.