Two Dragons Fighting Over a Fire Ball is a very powerful decorative paper because of its bright red background. The red and the pattern that the papers name is derived from represent two important aspects of Chinese culture.

Red represents luck, joy, enthusiasm, passion and morale; the color appears in many aspects of Chinese life, including the Spring Festival when families welcome in the New Year. Part of the festivities for this occasion includes putting a bright red couplet on both sides of the doors to family homes to express best wishes for the upcoming year.

Red is used to celebrate other festivals throughout the year, as well, including the Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhong Qiu Jie) when families gather to celebrate the year’s harvest and the Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao Jie), when the streets are filled with people attempting to solve riddles on the lanterns and before returning home to eat Yuanxiao with their families.

Additionally significant is the pattern of the two dragons fighting over the fire ball – a common decorative pattern seen on paper, silk and other materials. Representing the sun, the fire ball is being encouraged to rise by the two dragons. The pattern illustrates a simple dream of the people that the sun may shine in every corner of the world on every one.

The paper itself is a single-ply, semi-processed Xuan paper that is versatile enough to be used for calligraphy, Sumi-e and fineline painting