Zodiac Ox Mug symbolizes hope for new year

The mug's lid is in the shape of a lotus leaf, upon which sits a golden toad, and is a brilliant play on Chinese homophones.

In the Chinese language, lotus is a homophone for harmony, while a golden toad is a symbol of fortune; the combination of the two motifs thus bears the metaphor of "harmony brings fortune."

In addition, the lotus has another name in Chinese, "lian," which is a homophone for continuity.

"And if you'd like to think that's a golden frog resting on the lotus leaf, that's perfectly fine, too, as the frog, or "wa" in Chinese, shares the same pronunciation with the word for "children." This interpretation yields a blessing of a different kind: Fecundity and prosperity," Shi said.

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