Red Bats (Hόng Fú 紅蝠)

Always looking for ways to increase the power and strength of a blessing or good fortune, the traditional Chinese approach was to double up auspicious words.  And, as you may have already begun to suspect, traditional Chinese also loved a play on words. That’s one reason we find so many good will wishes with double, or more, elements.

You will often find red bats in Chinese decorations. And, no, that doesn’t mean China was filled with red colored bats. Making bats red in their decorative art amplified the blessing being passed on.

Hόng 紅 means red, but it also sounds like the hόng for vast or enormous. When the two words are put together Hόng Fú 紅蝠,red bat,is homophonous with a good will wish meaning “May your blessings be enormous.”