CULTURAL BACKGROUND: The ruyi is a Chinese scepter that functioned as a symbol of good fortune and was believed to have powers to grant wishes. The term “ruyi” in Chinese means “everything as you wish,” and thus ruyi scepters have traditionally been presented as birthday gifts. The head of the ruyi is most often fashioned in a stylized cloud form or in the shape of the sacred lingzhi fungus which was the Daoist symbol of immortality. The lingzhi is still highly valued by the Chinese today for its purported health benefits, and is utilized as an ingredient for the treatment of various aliments, as well as being widely consumed for food.