What is the symbolism of the lotus flower?
In Eastern culture, the lotus flower has always held a unique status, with its elegant posture and rich connotations making it a favorite subject for scholars and poets. As the most representative aquatic plant of summer, the lotus is not only famous for its purity, rising from the mud unsoiled, but also conveys profound emotional codes through its diverse flower shapes.
The cultural symbolism system of the lotus flower
The spiritual character of rising from the mud unsoiled
Zhou Dunyi of the Northern Song Dynasty, in his "Ode to the Lotus," elevated the characteristics of the lotus 'transparent inside and straight outside, without sprawling or branching' to a concrete expression of a gentleman's character. This symbolic meaning of self-purification is still widely used today, commonly seen in the promotion of integrity culture and moral education.
Auspicous symbol of love and marriage
The occurrence of twin lotuses is about one in a hundred thousand, and this twin phenomenon is given the special meaning of 'eternal unity.' In wedding celebrations, lotus patterns are often combined with mandarin duck patterns to form a complete system of love imagery.
Differences in lotus varieties and symbolism
Cultural heritage of traditional varieties
Single-petal white lotus represents a religious sentiment of transcendence, while double-petal red lotus is often used for joyous occasions. According to "The Book of百花," there were already 38 cultivated varieties such as 'Buddha Seat Lotus' and 'Thousand-petal Lotus' in ancient times.
New symbolism of modern cultivated varieties
New varieties like 'Starry牡丹 Lotus' have expanded the dimensions of artistic expression of lotus flowers through blue-purple gradient petals, with their symbolism extending to modern interpretations such as 'exploring the unknown.'
Intercultural interpretation of the myth of the lotus flower
The legend of Yuji transforming into a lotus flower reflects the philosophical contemplation of the relationship between heaven and man in ancient China, which interestingly corresponds to the story of Brahma's birth from a lotus in Indian mythology. This aquatic plant has been considered a medium connecting the secular and the sacred in different civilizations.
From courtyard landscaping to cultural and creative derivatives, the cultural value of the lotus flower continues to thrive in the new era. Its symbolism system maintains core ethical values while constantly absorbing modern aesthetic elements. This balance between tradition and innovation is the survival wisdom of the lotus flower culture that has endured for thousands of years.