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The Port
The rich history and beginnings of the Peranakan culture. Learn about the past and the journey Peranakans and their descendants have taken over hundreds of years to establish their colourful culture.
Hover over each motif to learn about the meaning behind it
in Peranakan Embroidery & Beadwork
Cranes symbolises a
Long and Healthy Life.
​
Cranes are recognised as positive symbols in Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, & Singapore.
Goldfishes have an auspiscious meaning!
It is "jin yu" in Chinese, which sounds like the word for success.
In Cantonese, the prawn is "ha".
This sounds like laughter, and therefore symbolises happiness!
Pineapples are commonly known as "bolou", with "bo" meaning "abundance" & "richness".
The many number of seeds in a pomegranate symbolises fertility. Additionally, the Chinese word for pomegranate sounds similar to "generations".
Peaches are a favourite for symbolism purposes as they represent long life or immortality. Additionally, the Chinese God of Longevity, Lao Shouxing, carries a large peach.
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