The Turtle in the Jade Peony

The Turtle is an important symbol in the Jade Peony. It is Jung's pet in the 2nd part of the novel. 

The turtle comes from Dai Kew, a friend of the family. Apparently, the turtle had been kept on a steamship with Dai, and now lives in the shed in the backyard.

Jung begins to like the turtle. He starts feeding and walking him every day. He even shows the turtle to all his friends.

The turtle is an important symbol in Chine myth and legend. It is a symbol of luck and good fortune. As Poh-Poh says, "turtle very good fortune.  Long life." It is this luck that Dai looks for in his constant gambling. He believes the turtle brings him good luck, so he keeps it with him.

The turtle also shows the link between the living and the dead. Poh-Poh shows how the Chinese believe the turtle talks to ghosts. She says, "turtle talk to ghosts - all the time, ghost talk." This is another mythical characteristic of the turtle. This shows how Choy uses the animal as a symbol of the connection between the living and dead.

The turtle is also used as a symbol of the ancient Chinese myths and stories. Jung believes that the turtle's ancestary belonged to the Great Turtle, a Chinese mythological character.

Finally, the turtle becomes a symbol for the contrast between Canadian and Chinese culture, an important topic throughout the novel. Jung's friend reminds him that the turtle is Canadian, so he should have a Canadian name. In the end, they name him King George after the King of England. It seems odd that a Chinese family would have a turtle named after the King of England, but this is only one example of the family integrating in Canadian culture.