Auspicious Flowers and Plants

Patterns with the images of plants and flowers are the most diversified and widely used, and many of them are combined with animals. Flower, branches and leaves are often depicted in odd number to convey the dynamic irregularity of the life force, and unopened buds are included among flowers in bloom to represent life’s continuous journey.

Bamboo (竹- Zhú)

Bamboo is a homophone for “congratulate”. As it can survive the hardest natural conditions and remains green all year round it`s also a symbol of longevity and vitality.

According to a folk tale, in the mountains of southern China lived creatures with human face, body of a monkey, one hand and one foot, who robbed fire from villages in winter. The villagers found out by chance that the cracking sound from burning bamboo frightened those creatures, so they started burning bamboo on New Year Eve to keep the creatures away and to pray for peace and safety, ritual which became a tradition. After gunpowder was invented bamboos were replaced by firecrackers, but the name was preserved: firecrackers are still called Bàozhú (爆竹), which means cracking bamboos. Designs with boys letting off firecrackers are very popular on New Year prints, paper cuts and porcelain, and symbolize the expelling of evil spirits and yearning for peace and safety.

Boys letting off firecrackers, detail of a vase, late Qing Dynasty

Plum blossom (梅花 - Méihuā)

As the first flower to bloom each year, the plum blossom stands for renewal and purity. The five petals of the plum blossom are auspicious, and stand for happiness, prosperity, longevity, bliss and wealth. 

Paper cut with plum flowers

Pine, bamboo and plum (歲寒三友 - Suìhánsānyǒu)

When shown together the pine, bamboo and plum are known as “The Three Friends of Winter”. Although they are of different families, the evergreen pine trees, the straight bamboo, as well as the plum tree that blossoms in winter, have a common character of nobility and fortitude. As all of them can brave the coldness in winter, they are symbols of longevity and perseverance, which are virtues attributed to the scholar-gentleman.

Three Friends of Winter, Zhao Mengjian

Chrysanthemum (菊花 - Júhuā)

Since ancient times the chrysanthemum has been one of the most favored flowers by Chinese scholars. It is a symbol of longevity because of its health-giving properties, hence the name “the flower of elegance and longevity”. During the Han dynasty, people drank chrysanthemum wine on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in order to prolong their lives. Nowadays, the Chinese continue to drink chrysanthemum petal tea for its health giving qualities. Chrysanthemum is also considered the hermit among all flowers, therefore it`s a symbol of virtuous men. It is also a symbol of many descendents and great blessings.

Chrysanthemums - ink and color on paper, Unidentified Artist
MET Online Collection

Lotus (荷- Hé, 莲 - Lián)

The lotus is a symbol of purity because it rises out of the mud to bloom, and is therefore also known as the “noblest flower”. In Buddhism, lotus is the holy flower and the embodiment of Pure Land, and after this religion was introduced in China, it became an important image of Buddhist decorations. Lotus blossoms are often depicted as a throne for the Buddha, and it is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism (八吉祥Bājíxiáng). The most commonly seen auspicious design featuring the lotus flower is the image of the lotus blossom with petals of different shape, symbolizing health and safety.

Green bowl and stand carved with green petals, Suzhou Museum

Peach (桃 - Táo)

A symbol of longevity, the peach is one of the most popular motifs found in art. The peach is a symbol of longevity, said to have grown in the orchard of the Queen Mother of the West (西王母 - Xīwángmǔ) on the Kunlun Mountain. According to the legend, it takes three thousand years for the trees to blossom and another three thousand years for them to bear fruits. On her birthday, the Queen Mother of the West would host a banquet where the immortals are invited to taste the peaches. It is from one of these banquets that Monkey King Sun Wukong stole the peaches and got into a lot of trouble, but that`s another story. The God of longevity worshiped by the Chinese is often depicted as having fresh peaches one hand and walking stick in the other.

Plate with Peach and Bat Pattern, Qing Dynasty
source: Asian Art Museum

Peony (牧丹 - Mù dān)

The peony is a plant native to China and, due to its gorgeous blossoms, is known as the “king of the flowers”. The peony is a symbol of royalty and virtue and it is also called the “flower of wealth and honor” (富貴花- Fùguìhuā). Designs bearing this meaning often feature the peony in combination with magnolia flowers and Chinese crab apple branches (which looks like a cherry).

Read the introduction about Auspicious Symbols and Designs.
Back to Part 1 - Auspicious Beasts and Birds.