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.
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.