Octagonal silver ornament embossed on one side with five boys who represent the sons of Dou Yujun, an eminent scholar and official during the Five Dynasties period (AD907 – 960). His five sons were very successful during the Civil Service Examinations and became high officials. Therefore their depiction symbolizes the wish to achieve a prominent status. Also depicted are as Osmanthus flower (Distinguished sons) and a Peony (Wealth & Honor). We believe that the object depicted above the Osmanthus flower is a Coin which symbolizes Wealth. The five petals of the Plum flowers which encircle the scene symbolize the Five Blessings, Old age, Health, Wealth, Love of Virtue and a Peaceful death. The other side of the ornament is decorated with the ‘Ba Gua’ or ‘Pa Kua’ (Eight Trigrams) each consisting of three lines either ‘broken’ or ‘unbroken’ which were used in Taoist cosmology. Each trigram has a meaning, for instance Heaven (天 Tiân), Lake (澤(泽 Zé), Fire (火 Huǒ), Thunder (雷 Léi), Wind (風(风 Fēng), Water (水 Shuǐ), Mountain (山 Shān) and Earth (地 Dì). The centre is shaped as two fishes which symbolize Abundance. At the same time they form a ‘Yin Yang’ symbol which represents opposite forces that are actually complementary. Inside the Pa kua they represent a balance in Feng shui which is a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment. The ornament dates from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Width 6.2 cm. Depth 2.2 cm.