Lotus (He Hua)

荷花

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Lotus flower is one of the most commonly seen motifs in Chinese traditional artworks. It is particularly favoured by scholars because one of its biological characteristics is that it grows out of mud yet blooms pure and untainted flowers, which scholars refer to their own uncorrupted nature.

Lotus in Chinese can be translated into He Hua (荷花) or Lian Hua (莲花). The use of their images, however, are interchangeable.

Lotus flower, leave, stem and pod may all have different meanings. See examples below:

Lotus bouquet 一把莲

May you pass examinations all the way 一路连科

You are an honest and uncorrupted official in your entire career 一路清廉

Acknowledgement:

Fig 1: baluster vase with underglaze blue decoration, Shunzhi period (1644–61), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Butler Family Collection

Fig 2: square porcelain vase with overglaze enamelled decoration, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 3: beaker vase with overglaze enamelled decoration, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Fig 4: porcelain bowl with overglaze enamelled decoration, Kangxi period–early 18^th century, courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Fig 5: copper bottle with falangcai enamelled decoration, Yongzheng period (1723–35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 6: porcelain cup with falangcai enamelled decoration, Yongzheng period (1723–35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 7: porcelain bowl, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 8: porcelain vase with underglaze blue decoration, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Palace Museum, Beijing

Fig 9: glass snuff-bottle with falangcai enamelled decoration, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 10: copper container with falangcai enamelled decoration, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 11: porcelain bowl with falangcai enamelled decoration, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 12: drum stool with underglaze blue and overglaze enamelled decoration, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Palace Museum, Beijing

Fig 13: square flower pot with overglaze enamelled decoration, Guangxu period (1875–1908), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Palace Museum, Beijing