Wu lou gourds
The wu lou gourd, hulu in Mandarin, puns on fortune and once carried medicine.
Three meanings in one shape
A lucky sound
Hulu sounds like fu lu, fortune and rank. Wu lou is its Cantonese name. Its many seeds also stood for many children.
A healer's sign
Li Tieguai carries medicine in his. In an old tale a medicine seller hung a gourd at his stall. Doctors still speak of hanging a gourd.
A closed shape
In feng shui, the narrow neck is said to hold good qi in and shut bad qi out. People hang one with a red cord.
Narrow at the neck, so good things stay inside.
What to look for
A gourd is a wish, not a treatment. Hanging one doesn't replace a doctor.
Wu lou gourds
Hand-picked pieces are on the way.
Good to know
What does a wu lou gourd mean?
It stands for blessings and long life. Wu lou is the Cantonese name for hulu, the bottle gourd, and hulu sounds close to the Chinese words for fortune and rank. It is also linked with healers.
Where do you put a wu lou in the house?
By a doorway or beside the bed, by custom. Many people hang one with a red cord, and some keep a small one close.
Does a wu lou help with health?
Not as medicine. Feng shui custom reads it as a symbol of good health, and people hang one as a wish. See a doctor for anything that worries you.
