This painting may represent a rebus, or word puzzle, for the Chinese gongming fugui (功名富貴; meritorious honor and wealth), referring to a successful scholar who has attained official rank. Gongming can mean the cry of a male bird (gongji = rooster; ming = cry) and fugui is a peony. Chikkei studied under Yamamoto Baiitsu, who is also represented in this gallery.