Double Happiness (calligraphy)

Double Happiness (simplified Chinese: 双喜; traditional Chinese: 雙喜; pinyin: shuāngxǐ) sometimes translated as Double Happy, is a Chinese traditional ornament design, commonly used as a decoration symbol of marriage. Outside of China, it is also used in the United States, Europe, East Asia and Southeast Asia.

Old matchboxes with double happiness design
For other uses, see Double Happiness (disambiguation).
Double happiness in a circular shape.[1]
Double happiness on a woven mat

Characteristics

Double Happiness is a ligature, "囍" composed of 喜喜 – two copies of the Chinese character 喜 (xǐⓘ) literally meaning joy, compressed to assume the square shape of a standard Chinese character (much as a real character may consist of two parts), and is pronounced simply as xǐ or as a polysyllabic Chinese character, being read as 双喜 (shuāngxǐ).[2]

Typically the character "囍" is written in Chinese calligraphy, and frequently appears on traditional decorative items, associated with marriage. Double happiness symbol also often found all over the wedding ceremony, as well as on gift items given to the bride and groom. The color of the character is usually red, occasionally black.

Since 2017, the version 10 of the Unicode Standard features a rounded version of the character in the "Enclosed Ideographic Supplement" block, at code point U+1F264 🉤 ROUNDED SYMBOL FOR SHUANGXI.[3]

Nowadays shuāngxǐ (alternatively transcribed shuang hsi) is used as a brand names for things like fashion, jewelry, cigarettes, matches, soy sauce, etc. It is also featured as decoration on many items by Chinese luxury brand Shanghai Tang.

Hong Kong lifestyle retail store G.O.D. designs many products themed with the double happiness symbol, including scented candles, accessories and Ming-inspired tableware and tea sets.[4][5]

  • A double happiness character on the door ring of Soong Ching-ling's ancestral home in Wenchang, Hainan
    A double happiness character on the door ring of Soong Ching-ling's ancestral home in Wenchang, Hainan
  • A porcelain vase from the Qing Dynasty with double happiness characters
    A porcelain vase from the Qing Dynasty with double happiness characters
  • Rice bowl cover decorated with a medallion of the double happiness and longevity (Shou) symbol in the center, from Joseon Dynasty Korea
    Rice bowl cover decorated with a medallion of the double happiness and longevity (Shou) symbol in the center, from Joseon Dynasty Korea
  • A Vietnamese wedding decoration, with a double happiness character
    A Vietnamese wedding decoration, with a double happiness character
  • Traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, with a double happiness character in the background
    Traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, with a double happiness character in the background
  • Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤宁宫) of the Forbidden City, with traditional Chinese wedding decorations and a double happiness character in the foreground
    Palace of Earthly Tranquility (坤宁宫) of the Forbidden City, with traditional Chinese wedding decorations and a double happiness character in the foreground
  • Chinese wedding invitation cards with double happiness characters
    Chinese wedding invitation cards with double happiness characters
  • Chinese wedding invitation card with a double happiness character in the center
    Chinese wedding invitation card with a double happiness character in the center
  • Double happiness decorations in Vietnam
    Double happiness decorations in Vietnam
  • Chinese wedding ceremony teaware, with double happiness characters on them
    Chinese wedding ceremony teaware, with double happiness characters on them
  • Chinese wedding ceremony teaware
    Chinese wedding ceremony teaware
  • Gold jewelry with double happiness character, Hong Kong
    Gold jewelry with double happiness character, Hong Kong
  • A traditional Chinese wedding reception, with double happiness decoration in the middle
    A traditional Chinese wedding reception, with double happiness decoration in the middle

See also
  • Fu character (福), also a common good-luck decorative design
  • Lu character (禄), a Chinese character symbolizing prosperity
  • Shou character (壽), a Chinese character symbolizing longevity
  • Xi character (喜), a Chinese character symbolizing happiness

References
  1. Afshar, Pournader, Shervin, Roozbeh (1 November 2014). "Six New Symbols from Chinese Folk Religion (revision 2)" (PDF). unicode.org. Retrieved 11 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 詞條名稱：囍. Concise Mandarin Chinese Dictionary (in Chinese). Ministry of Education. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  3. "The Unicode Standard, Version 10.0, Enclosed Ideographic Supplement" (PDF). unicode.org. The Unicode Consortium. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  4. Hong, Xinying (10 July 2012). "9 quirky finds at Goods of Desire". Her World Plus. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  5. "G.O.D.: Tongue in cheek - Tongue-in-cheek designs inspired by Hong Kong culture". CNN Travel. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
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