Bee

Bees were mostly kept by monks that utilized the honey and wax for foods and candles. The Chinese bee is depicted with a gentle character. In China the word for bee and wasp are the same and is a symbol of industriousness and prudence.  A depiction of a group of bee means a well orchestrated industry. 

When given as a gift, in a work of art, it can be a gesture of encouragement to rise higher in one’s field of work or study.