The Meaning and Symbolism of Keeping Pomegranate Flowers at Home
The editor introduces the topic of the meaning and symbolism of keeping pomegranate flowers at home and explores the cultural connotation of pomegranate flowers. Please see the detailed introduction below.
In the central and northern regions of China, many rural families have the habit of planting pomegranate trees. It is commonly believed that having a pomegranate tree at home not only brings fortune and luck but also attracts wealth and prosperity, making it a Feng Shui plant that brings prosperity to the family.
There is a saying in the central plains, "In May, the pomegranate flowers are as red as fire." In early summer, when flowers are becoming scarce, the pomegranate flowers on both sides of the courtyard gate are blooming with bright red petals, green leaves, and fiery flowers, bringing a sense of warmth, joy, excitement, and boldness! In late autumn, the ripe pomegranates, like red lanterns, hang on the branches, some of which even crack open to reveal the gem-like fruits, sparkling and neatly arranged.
Pomegranate, also known as Anshiliu, Danming, Tulin, Jinying, Xuezhu, Tianjiang, etc., is a deciduous small tree of the pomegranate family, native to Persia. During the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian was sent to the Western Regions via the Silk Road and brought back pomegranate trees from Tulin and Anshi countries (now Iran), which were then planted in many parts of China. Due to the characteristic of pomegranates having many seeds, "thousand rooms in the abdomen, thousand children as one," they are considered a symbol of having many children and grandchildren. Nowadays, at wedding ceremonies, four kinds of dried fruits, red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds, are placed on the incense table, symbolizing the hope that the newlyweds will "have children early." In fact, as early as the Han and Wei dynasties, pomegranates were already used as auspicious objects and fruits to bless childbirth.
According to the "Beishi: Wei Shouzhuan," when the king An De of the Northern Qi Dynasty married the daughter of Li Zushou from Zhaojun, once the An Ze king visited the Li family for a banquet and was given two large pomegranates by the mother of the queen as a farewell gift. However, the An De king did not understand the meaning and threw away the pomegranates. At this time, a minister named Wei Shouzhuan explained that pomegranates have many seeds, and since the king was newly married, the mother of the queen wanted the king and the queen to have many children after marriage. The An De king was delighted and had the pomegranates picked up and taken back. Later, giving pomegranates at weddings became a custom, symbolizing many children and blessings, which has continued to this day.
Therefore, during weddings, people often place several pomegranates with red fruit on the table or in the new bedroom, symbolizing good fortune for the marriage and many children and blessings after marriage.
The pomegranate tree, flowers, and fruit are all beautiful and not only loved by people but also celebrated by many poets. Song poet Yang Wanli wrote in his poem "Ode to Pomegranate Flowers": "Unwilling to lightly color with the times, yet protecting the deep red with dense green." Using personification, he described how the dense green leaves protect the deep red pomegranate flowers, full of interest and auspicious meaning. However, in the eyes of literati, pomegranate flowers have also been associated with "romantic tales." It is said that ancient women liked to wear skirts as red as pomegranate flowers, and because of love between men and women, the saying "bowing down at the feet of the pomegranate skirt" emerged, which refers to a man being enchanted by a woman's beauty and led astray.
The Meaning and Symbolism of Keeping Pomegranate Flowers at Home
Not only did ancients consider pomegranates as auspicious objects for marriage and childbirth, but they also used them as offerings and gifts. The widespread folk custom in China, such as "Pomegranate Bearing Hundred Children," "Many Children and Blessings," and "Huafeng Three Wishes," all indicate the popularity of pomegranate trees and fruits among Chinese people. In the ancient Siheyuan buildings in Beijing, it was common to plant two pomegranate trees symmetrically on both sides of the door, on one hand, to echo the homophones of many seeds and many children, and on the other hand, the shape of pomegranate seeds resembles宝石翡翠, representing wealth. This desire for many children and blessings, and the hope for prosperity and wealth, has been deeply rooted in people's hearts.
People generally like to plant pomegranate trees in their courtyards and enjoy the fruit for the following reasons.
1: It is an auspicious tree for the inheritance of folk culture, which can enhance luck. There are many wealth-attracting plants in life, such as money trees, orange trees, osmanthus trees, grapevines, etc., and pomegranate trees are among them. Ancients believed that planting pomegranate trees in the courtyard could gather auspicious breath at home.
2: It has a good寓意, in line with the traditional Chinese concept of many children and many blessings.
3: It refreshes one's mood. It is commonly believed that pomegranate trees are yang plants, which can drive away evil and yin qi, transform the aura, making the air fresher and cleaner. With less evil and yin qi in the courtyard, fortune and福气 have a place to stay, and the family's luck naturally gets better.
4: It makes work more smooth. Whether things succeed or not is often related to psychology and spirit. Pomegranate trees make the air at home fresh, people vigorous, family relationships harmonious, and harmony generates wealth, which will naturally make the family's fortune better and better.
5: Pomegranate trees are easy to cultivate, easy to survive, and have cold resistance and adaptability.
6: They have both ornamental and practical value.
When planting pomegranate trees in the courtyard, the following points should be noted:
1: Plant two symmetrically on both sides of the main door of the courtyard. Planting one cassia and one pomegranate on each side of the door is also a good choice. But do not plant too close to the house, door, or window.
2: The plants in the courtyard should not be too tall, causing a sense of oppression, and should be pruned in time. Plants in the courtyard should not block too much sunlight, as less yang qi means more yin qi.
3: It is not advisable to plant too many pomegranate trees in the courtyard, one or two will do.
4: According to the theory of the Five Elements, the east of the courtyard belongs to wood, the south to fire. Planting pomegranate trees in the east, southeast, and south is excellent, creating a layout of wood and fire communicating, of course, requiring a sunny place.
5: The best place is where you feel good, which is good Feng Shui!
Planting pomegranate trees in the courtyard is not only a cultural heritage but also a custom formed in people's lives, reflecting the yearning of the general public for a better life.
Above (Green Addiction Network) introduces the meaning and symbolism of keeping pomegranate flowers at home and explores the specific cultural connotation of pomegranate flowers for everyone's reference.