Upside Down Fu “Good Fortune” Signs for Chinese New Year 2026
Are you prepared for 2026 – The year of the Yang Fire Horse?
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Fu means good luck, and the reason that the character is placed upside down is that it is believed that placing it upside down will cause the good fortune to literally pour out on the home, office or building in which it is placed.
Please click on the image for the full-size printable Fu Card in either full colour or the printer-friendly version
Upside down Good Fortune signs are very similar to Chinese New Year Couplets and are made with red paper for the background and bright gold or black paper for the Chinese character which is carefully cut out to create a beautiful design which has a big red diamond (not a diamond as you would see on a ring but a square which is turned 45 degrees on the paper designs and in bright gold or black paper, you will find an upside-down Chinese Character which is 福 (fú /foo) on or over a door to a home, office or building.
The story of Upside-Down Fu
This fascinating tradition that has been around for many years may have actually come about from a simple mistake!
I couldn’t find any information on the exact date but during one Chinese New Year, a family in China placed the 福 (fú /foo) symbol on the diamond upside down as a mistake and without realising, they placed it on the front of their home. The family had now placed the sign up and on the first day of Chinese New Year when people came to their home and saw the sign with the upside-down Fu symbol, they would say to them “你们的福倒了!” which means ‘Your fu is upside down!’.
倒 (dao /daoww/) means ‘to invert’ which can also be translated as “To pour out” which started the tradition of having the Fu symbol upside down as it would be read as “having your blessing poured out on your home”.
This year, we have designed a Fu sign for you to download for free and place outside your home or office on Chinese New Year’s Eve. You should leave this up until the day after Chinese New Year’s Day.
Download full-colour Fu card here
Download eco friendly Fu card here
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© Feng Shui Store Daniel Hanna 2025
Visit the pages below for further details on the 2026 Chinese New Year.
Chinese New Year 2026 ** How to make your own Ang Pow ** Chinese Talismans for 2026 ** Chinese animal predictions for 2026 ** Flying star Xuan Kong 2026 ** Avoid the fury of the Grand Duke, three killings in 2026 ** Chinese New Year world time converter 2026 ** 2026 Cures and enhancers kits ** How to take a compass reading ** How to determine your facing direction ** Feng Shui software updated for period 9 ** Feng Shui resource ** Feng Shui Blog ** Chinese culture **
When do you take it done from the front door? And is it okay to hang it right side up as well? Thank you!
Hi Ann,
These can be kept up all year, although this is down to preference; this can be kept up for a few days to a few weeks if you prefer. I would hang this as displayed on the website as this is designed to be an upside down symbol.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Daniel
what do i do with the sign after, throw it out, burn it ?
Hi Raynel,
You can either burn this in a fire inside of the home or carefully and respectfully place this in a bin outside of the home to dispose of this after you are finished using it.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Daniel
june 2021 onwards, im planning to hang this symbol on my living room, on what direction north, south east or west? is the best direction to put this.
Hi Mimi,
The best location for this would be in the west out of your options.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Daniel
Hi, can I hang this symbol upside down on my front door outside now, in April 2021 , if not can we hang on the south west wall upside down..pls reply
Hi Sujata,
That will be fine to hang this up anytime this year.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Daniel
Is it too late to place this on the front door? I live in a second floor flat.
Can I use the same one to place in the southeast or northeast after taking it down from the front door?
Hi Anna,
You can still place this for as long as you like.
Kind regards,
Daniel
Thank you so much! 😊🙏🏼✨
i live in a 2 family house on the second floor. do i put this outside my door on the second floor? also do i put it up on the 25th and then take it down on the 27th? thank you!!! (((hugs)))
L&L
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Yes, you can put this above the door to your home on the second floor. You can keep this up as long as you like although a few days will be fine.
Kind regards,
Daniel
there is only a small space above the door so can i make the image small enough to fit? will that still work right? since i can leave it up longer how long can i leave it up for? thank you!!! (((hugs)))
L&L
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Yes, you can make the image smaller if it will not fit as it is.
You can leave the Fu sign up all year although a lot of people will usually keep it up for a few weeks during New Year.
Kind regards,
Daniel
just one more question. which symbol should i use on what color paper? i appreciate all of your help with this!!! thank you so much!!! (((hugs)))
L
Hi,
I would print the following image on white card – https://www.fengshuiweb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Fu-symbol-2020.jpg
If you would rather save printer ink, you can print on red card or colour in this image – https://www.fengshuiweb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/upside-down-fu-white-2020.jpg
Kind regards,
Daniel
Where to hang for this year 2019? Which direction is the best place to hang the spring festival couplets?
Hi TG,
These should be hung outside the front door either on the door or above.
Kind regards,
Daniel
Best directions to hang Spring Festivals couplets?
Hi TG,
I would place the couplets either side of the front door for Chinese New Year.
Kind regards,
Daniel
Does it have to be down by the 17th?
Hi Mandy,
Ideally, they should be removed on the 17th although if you wanted to keep them up, you could place it in the southeast or northeast for the year.
Kind regards,
Daniel