fú lù shòu: 福禄寿 - Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity
Quick Summary
- Keywords: Fu Lu Shou, fú lù shòu, Chinese gods of fortune, fortune prosperity longevity, Three Stars, Sanxing, Chinese blessings, good fortune in Chinese, Chinese New Year symbols, Chinese mythology, what does fu lu shou mean.
- Summary: 福禄寿 (Fú Lù Shòu) is a central concept in Chinese culture representing the trinity of life's greatest aspirations: Fortune (Fu), Prosperity (Lu), and Longevity (Shou). Often personified as three wise, elderly male deities known as the Three Stars (三星, Sānxīng), this term embodies the traditional ideal of a complete and successful life. You will encounter 福禄寿 as a popular blessing, a common motif in art, and as statues displayed in homes and businesses, especially during Chinese New Year, to attract a life filled with happiness, success, and good health.
Core Meaning
- Pinyin (with tone marks): fú lù shòu
- Part of Speech: Noun (as a collective concept); Proper Noun (referring to the three deities)
- HSK Level: N/A
- Concise Definition: A traditional Chinese cultural concept representing the three ultimate goals in life: blessings, social status, and long life.
- In a Nutshell: 福禄寿 is the classic Chinese formula for a perfect life. It's more than just a word; it's a deep-seated cultural goal that encompasses everything one could wish for. Think of it as the traditional equivalent of “health, wealth, and happiness,” but with more specific, culturally-rich meanings. It's not just about luck, but about the blessings of a good family; not just about money, but about the respect and prosperity that comes from a good career; and not just about health, but about the profound gift of a long, full life to enjoy with your loved ones.
Character Breakdown
- 福 (fú): This character means “blessings,” “good fortune,” and “happiness.” It's often associated with a peaceful life and a healthy, happy family with many children and grandchildren. This is the character you frequently see posted upside-down on doors during Chinese New Year, because “upside-down” (倒, dào) sounds like the word for “to arrive” (到, dào), creating a pun that means “fortune has arrived.”
- 禄 (lù): This character translates to “prosperity,” “official salary,” and “status.” In ancient China, the most stable and prestigious path to wealth and honor was to become a government official. Therefore, 禄 represents success, social standing, and the financial security that comes from a distinguished career.
- 寿 (shòu): This character simply means “longevity.” A long and healthy life is one of the most revered values in Chinese culture. The character itself is a powerful symbol, often appearing in calligraphy, on birthday cakes (especially for the elderly), and on gifts to wish someone a long life.
Together, 福-禄-寿 represent a balanced, holistic vision of a life well-lived, covering family happiness, career success, and personal well-being.
Cultural Context and Significance
The concept of 福禄寿 is most famously personified as the 三星 (Sānxīng), or the “Three Stars,” three popular deities in Chinese folk religion. You will see them depicted everywhere:
- Fu Xing (福星): The Star of Fortune, typically a scholar-like figure holding a baby or a scroll, symbolizing the blessing of a good family and descendants.
- Lu Xing (禄星): The Star of Prosperity, dressed as a distinguished mandarin official, often holding a ruyi (如意), a ceremonial scepter symbolizing power and authority.
- Shou Xing (寿星): The Star of Longevity, an elderly, kind-looking man with a very high, domed forehead. He carries a dragon-headed staff and a peach of immortality.
Comparison to a Western Concept: A useful comparison is the “American Dream.” While the American Dream traditionally focuses on upward mobility, material wealth, and individual success achieved through hard work, 福禄寿 is more holistic and family-centric. The “Dream” might be a big house and a nice car achieved by oneself; a life of 福禄寿 includes this (禄), but places equal importance on the joy of a multi-generational family (福) and living long enough to see your grandchildren grow up (寿). It's less about individualistic achievement and more about achieving a harmonious and complete life cycle within the family and community. This ties into core Chinese values like filial piety (孝, xiào), the importance of family continuity, and social harmony. A life of 福禄寿 is a blessing not just for the individual, but for the entire family.
Practical Usage in Modern China
While rooted in ancient beliefs, 福禄寿 remains highly relevant today.
- As a Formal Blessing: The phrase is often used in formal blessings, especially for important occasions. You will hear “祝你福禄寿全” (Zhù nǐ fú lù shòu quán - “Wishing you completeness in fortune, prosperity, and longevity”) at weddings, milestone birthdays (especially for those 60+), and during Chinese New Year visits.
- In Decorative Arts: Statues of the three gods are one of the most common feng shui (风水) items. They are placed in homes and businesses to attract positive energy. Their images are also found on paintings, posters, and red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo).
- Symbolic Language: Even when not said directly, the individual concepts are everywhere. People wish each other career success (禄), give gifts symbolizing long life (寿), and express hopes for a happy family (福).
Example Sentences
- Example 1:
- 春节的时候，家家户户都希望福禄寿三星高照。
- Pinyin: Chūnjié de shíhòu, jiājiāhùhù dōu xīwàng fú lù shòu sānxīng gāo zhào.
- English: During the Spring Festival, every household hopes that the three stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity will shine brightly upon them.
- Analysis: This sentence uses the term in its deified form (三星, sānxīng) and is a common, poetic way of expressing a New Year's wish for all-around good fortune.
- Example 2:
- 在爷爷的八十大寿上，我们祝他福禄寿全。
- Pinyin: Zài yéye de bāshí dàshòu shàng, wǒmen zhù tā fú lù shòu quán.
- English: At Grandpa's 80th birthday celebration, we wished him complete fortune, prosperity, and longevity.
- Analysis: This is a perfect example of using 福禄寿 as a formal blessing for an elder's birthday. The word 全 (quán) means “complete” or “all-inclusive.”
- Example 3:
- 这幅画上的三个老神仙就是福禄寿。
- Pinyin: Zhè fú huà shàng de sān ge lǎo shénxiān jiùshì Fú Lù Shòu.
- English: The three old immortals in this painting are Fu, Lu, and Shou.
- Analysis: A simple, descriptive sentence you might use when explaining Chinese art or culture to someone. Here, it's used as a proper noun.
- Example 4:
- 传统的中国人认为，人一生追求的无非就是福禄寿。
- Pinyin: Chuántǒng de Zhōngguó rén rènwéi, rén yīshēng zhuīqiú de wúfēi jiùshì fú lù shòu.
- English: Traditional Chinese people believe that what one pursues in life is nothing more than fortune, prosperity, and longevity.
- Analysis: This sentence explains the cultural significance of the term as the ultimate life goal. 无非就是 (wúfēi jiùshì) is a common structure meaning “is nothing but” or “is simply.”
- Example 5:
- 他事业有成，儿孙满堂，又身体健康，真是个福禄寿齐全的人。
- Pinyin: Tā shìyè yǒuchéng, érsūn mǎntáng, yòu shēntǐ jiànkāng, zhēnshì ge fú lù shòu qíquán de rén.
- English: His career is successful, he has children and grandchildren all around, and he's in good health—he is truly a person with complete fortune, prosperity, and longevity.
- Analysis: This shows how the concept is used to describe someone who has achieved the ideal life. It breaks down the components: career success (禄), many descendants (福), and good health (寿).
- Example 6:
- 我送给奶奶的这个礼物，象征着福禄寿。
- Pinyin: Wǒ sòng gěi nǎinai de zhège lǐwù, xiàngzhēng zhe fú lù shòu.
- English: This gift I am giving my grandma symbolizes fortune, prosperity, and longevity.
- Analysis: This is useful when explaining the meaning behind a traditional gift, such as a peach-shaped bun (寿桃, shòutáo) or a piece of jade carving.
- Example 7:
- 这家餐厅的名字叫“福禄寿”，希望能给食客带来好运。
- Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de míngzì jiào “Fú Lù Shòu”, xīwàng néng gěi shíkè dài lái hǎo yùn.
- English: This restaurant's name is “Fu Lu Shou”; they hope it can bring good luck to their patrons.
- Analysis: Demonstrates how the term is used in branding and business names to evoke positive, traditional, and auspicious feelings.
- Example 8:
- 他不求大富大贵，只求一个福禄寿安康的晚年。
- Pinyin: Tā bù qiú dà fù dà guì, zhǐ qiú yīgè fú lù shòu ānkāng de wǎnnián.
- English: He doesn't seek great wealth or status, he only asks for a peaceful and healthy old age blessed with fortune, prosperity, and longevity.
- Analysis: This shows a more introspective use of the term, focusing on the desire for a peaceful and complete life rather than extreme wealth. 安康 (ānkāng) means “safe and healthy.”
- Example 9:
- 你看，福星抱孩子，禄星穿官服，寿星额头高，很好认。
- Pinyin: Nǐ kàn, Fú xīng bào háizi, Lù xīng chuān guānfú, Shòu xīng étóu gāo, hěn hǎo rèn.
- English: Look, the Fu star holds a child, the Lu star wears official's robes, and the Shou star has a high forehead; they are very easy to recognize.
- Analysis: This breaks down the iconography of the three deities, providing a practical way to identify them in art.
- Example 10:
- 对于很多父母来说，孩子能过上福禄寿美满的生活就是他们最大的心愿。
- Pinyin: Duìyú hěnduō fùmǔ lái shuō, háizi néng guò shàng fú lù shòu měimǎn de shēnghuó jiùshì tāmen zuìdà de xīnyuàn.
- English: For many parents, their greatest wish is for their children to be able to live a perfect life of fortune, prosperity, and longevity.
- Analysis: This highlights the term's connection to family values and the hopes parents have for their children. 美满 (měimǎn) means “happy and complete.”
Nuances and Common Mistakes
- Not a Casual “Good Luck”: Avoid using “祝你福禄寿” for minor events like an exam or a job interview. It would be like wishing someone “a long and venerable life” when they're about to give a presentation. It's a weighty, significant blessing reserved for major life milestones like weddings, big birthdays, or the New Year. For casual good luck, use 加油 (jiāyóu) or 祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎoyùn).
- A Concept, Not Just a Word: Remember that 福禄寿 is more of a cultural philosophy than a simple vocabulary word. Its meaning is much deeper than a direct translation of its parts. Don't just think “luck, money, life”; think “family blessings, respectable success, a full lifespan.”
- “False Friend” vs. “Health, Wealth, and Happiness”: While this is a good starting point for understanding, there are key differences.
- 禄 (lù) vs. Wealth: 禄 specifically implies wealth and prosperity gained through a respectable position and social status, not just from any source like winning the lottery.
- 福 (fú) vs. Happiness: 福 is more about blessings and good fortune, especially in the context of a large and harmonious family. It's an external state of good fortune as much as an internal feeling of happiness.
- 寿 (shòu) vs. Health: Health is a necessary component for 寿, but 寿 is grander. It means a long, complete life span, not just the absence of sickness.
Related Terms and Concepts
- 三星 (Sānxīng) - The “Three Stars.” The direct, personified deities of Fu, Lu, and Shou.
- 吉祥 (jíxiáng) - Auspicious; lucky. A broader term for anything that is considered to bring good fortune. 福禄寿 is a form of吉祥.
- 长命百岁 (cháng mìng bǎi suì) - “Live to be 100 years old.” A common birthday wish that directly relates to the concept of 寿.
- 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái) - “Congratulations and may you be prosperous.” A ubiquitous Chinese New Year greeting that focuses on the 禄/财 aspect of a good life.
- 万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì) - “May all things go as you wish.” A general and powerful blessing that covers the aspirations of 福禄寿.
- 五福临门 (wǔ fú lín mén) - “The five blessings arrive at your door.” An expanded concept of 福, which traditionally includes longevity (寿), wealth (富), health (康宁), love of virtue (攸好德), and a peaceful death (考终命).