What are the symbolic meanings of the lotus flower? The latest interpretation of its meanings is here
The lotus has been called the “beauty under green canopies” by literati of past dynasties, not only because it possesses the natural beauty of vivid colors and graceful, slender charm, but also because it has the noble character of “emerging from mud unsoiled.” Ancient literati all liked to use the lotus to symbolize various beautiful things. So what are the symbolic meanings of the lotus, the “gentleman among flowers”?
Noble purity, holy purity
The lotus has always been revered in Buddhism as a flower of sacred purity, and Buddhism vigorously promotes and advocates learning from the lotus this spirit of innocence and holy purity. In addition, Zhou Dunyi also clearly expressed his love for the lotus in his famous essay On the Love of the Lotus: “I alone love the lotus, which emerges from mud unsoiled and is rinsed in clear ripples without being flirtatious,” and it has the reputation of being the "gentleman among flowers." From this it can be seen that the poet implies that people should learn the noble quality of the lotus in keeping themselves pure. In addition, Li Bai's poetic line “A lotus rises from clear water, naturally free of carving and adornment” also shows that the lotus has a natural beauty.
Incorruptibility
The lotus is also the green lotus, and green lotus is homophonous with “incorruptibility,” so the lotus is also used as a metaphor for being an official of integrity who does not go along with others in corrupt ways. This mainly refers to one's career in officialdom. For example, a painting composed of a green lotus and an egret, titled “A Journey of Incorruptibility,” was often placed in their studies by many literati.
Auspiciousness, good fortune
The lotus is called he, homophonous with “harmony.” In ancient times, a picture composed of lotus, crabapple, and flying swallows was made into a “He (lotus) Qing Hai Yan (swallow)” picture, symbolizing peace under heaven. Among the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism, the lotus is first. In ancient times, lotus and fish were cut into paper patterns and posted, called “abundance year after year,” indicating that society was prosperous. In addition, in the folk auspicious painting “The Two Immortals of Harmony and Union,” one person holds a lotus in hand and the other holds a box, to show harmony and union. Among the Eight Immortals, He Xiangu uses holding a lotus in her hand as her emblem, symbolizing her beauty and her surname He, expressing peace and good fortune.
Love
We all know that the threads of lotus root are very long and become entangled together. In real life we also often hear people say that “so-and-so and so-and-so have broken lotus roots that stay connected by threads,” which actually means that a man and a woman are still in contact, that is, what we call love. In fact, the use of the lotus to symbolize love was already recorded as early as the Tang Dynasty. The famous Tang poet Wang Bo wrote in Song of Picking Lotus: “Holding flowers, they are just twin-stemmed; breaking lotus roots, love keeps the threads connected,” that is, using twin lotuses and unbroken lotus-root threads to express the lingering affection of love between men and women. The lotus is most suitable as a symbol of pure and beautiful love. In addition, “lotus root” is homophonous with “couple,” and broken lotus roots remain connected by threads, while “twin lotuses bloom,” all of which are very suitable for expressing the unbroken lingering affection of love.
Beauty
As early as the Book of Songs, which has been passed down through the ages, there is a record of comparing the lotus to a beauty. In Guofeng, Chen Feng, Zepi, it says: “On the waves of that pond, there are cattails and lotus. There is a beautiful person, what can be done about my sorrow? Lying down and sleeping, I can do nothing; my tears and mucus pour down like rain.” It describes a man comparing the lotus to a beauty he has long admired, and because he has not seen her for a long time, he is endlessly heartbroken. Whether awake or asleep, his tears and mucus flow down uncontrollably like rain.
Friendship
In ancient China there was already the folk tradition of breaking off plum blossoms in spring to send to someone far away and picking lotus in autumn to remember someone, from which it can be seen that the lotus symbolizes pure friendship between people.