DANCING WITH CRANES Oil

Allegory of Happiness and Eternal Youth
Throughout Asia, the crane is a symbol of happiness and eternal youth, and symbolises good fortune and longevity because of its fabled life span of a thousand years. Embodying longevity and peace, it is the second most favoured bird symbol after the phoenix. Since ancient times, the Chinese have been exceptionally creative in using various living, non-living and imaginary objects to represent abstract ideas. Among the most popular and widely used symbols are the ones for longevity. Cranes walking or flying together is the ultimate symbol of longevity.