Auspicious patterns refer to a decorative pattern composed of graphics or text that contain an auspicious meaning. Patterns with auspicious meaning have been in existence for centuries and became increasingly popular following the Ming and Qing Dynasties. These patterns reached their peak during the Qing Dynasty and became a recognized convention in decorative imagery, forming a universal style that demands for "images that are intentional, intentions that are auspicious."

The auspicious patterns of the Qing Dynasty emphasized both the formal beauty of the patterns and their inherent messages. Patterns that draws on the themes of fortune, wealth, longevity, and happiness can be seen everywhere, reflecting the pursuit of happiness and ideals found in both the aristocracy and the common people. Throughout the history of auspicious patterns, these imageries have evolved into a unique means of expression that utilize symbolism, allegories, homophony, analogy, text, and other traditional rhetorics intimately tied to Chinese culture.

Of course, the meanings present in auspicious patterns are often multiple, complex, and equivocal. This exhibition has selected more than 30 sets of ancient artifacts from the collection and has grouped them into five sections according to their principal connotations as listed below:

1. Auspicious power (design of dragons and phoenix);

2. Luck-bringing and evil-repelling (design of three rams (symbolizing the auspicious beginning of a New Year), design of Taotie, (an ancient Chinese mythological creature), decorative escutcheon in the form of an animal mask);

3. Safety and happiness (design of lotuses, Ashtamangala (Eight Auspicious Signs), design of magpie, Ruyi-sceptre (an "S" - shaped ornamental object));

4. Good fortune and longevity (design of interlocking flowers, emblems of the Eight Immortals, design of the Three Abundances, design of gourds);

5. Honor and Integrity (design of chrysanthemums, design of bunched lotuses, design of auspicious phrases, design of fish);

Throughout the exhibition, the Long Museum will take this opportunity to showcase China’s various ways of expressing auspicious meaning since ancient times while also display the rich Chinese culture found in ornamentation.