<div id="fb-root"></div>
One egret (鹭鸶, similar shape as heron), which can be referred to in Chinese as ‘一鹭 yi lu’, makes a pun (i.e. a homophone) on the phrase ‘一路 yi lu’, for ‘all the way’. The <a data-internal-link="true" href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/lotus-lian-hua/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lotus</a> pod ‘莲窠 lian ke’, is a pun on ‘连科 lian ke’, which means ‘to pass examinations successively’. Thus, the combination of an egret and lotus pods can be created to represent the auspicious saying ‘May you come out first in the three-level civil-service examinations’!
The same picture may be referred to as <a data-internal-link="true" href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/you-are-an-honest-and-uncorrupted-official-in-your-entire-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘yi lu qing lian 一路清廉’</a>.
&nbsp;
Related Pun Picture: 
<a data-internal-link="true" href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/you-may-become-rich-by-receiving-good-education/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">You may become rich by receiving good education 读书出富贵</a>

May you pass examinations all the way

<div id="fb-root"></div>
An egret and <a data-internal-link="true" href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/motifs-symbols/lotus-lian-hua/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lotus flowers</a> (莲花) are pictured in combination to infer ‘yi lu qing lian 一路清廉’, which means ‘You are an honest and uncorrupted official in your entire career’.
‘Yi lu 一鹭’ for ‘one egret’ puns on ‘yi lu 一路’ for ‘all the way’; ‘qing lian 青莲’ for ‘green lotus’ makes pun on ‘qing lian 清廉’ for ‘honest and fair in government matters’. Hence the whole image is intended to describe somebody who has the integrity and has never been corrupted during the official career.
The same picture may be referred to as ‘<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/may-you-pass-examinations-all-the-way/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yi lu lian ke 一路连科</a>’.
Related Pun Picture: 
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/pun-pictures/may-you-couple-live-a-harmonious-life-and-enjoy-prestige/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May you couple live a harmonious life and enjoy prestige</a> 并蒂双贵
Recommended reading:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/blogs/commonly-misunderstood-images/more-than-a-naturalistic-motif-of-fish-pond-recognition-of-chinese-pun-rebus-pictures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More than a naturalistic motif of fish pond: recognition of Chinese pun rebus pictures</a>

You are an honest and uncorrupted official in your entire career

egret

chrysanthemum Qianlong porcelain bowl Tutuhaoyi

The ‘Double Yang Day’ in Chinese Traditional Festivals

Pictorial Presentations of the Story of Cowherd and the Weaving Maid on Chinese Antiques

Amitabha Pure Land Buddhism three Saints from West

Pictorial Presentation of Amitabha and the Two Assistant Bodhisattva

Hongwu porcelain ewer underglaze red Tutuhaoyi

Hongwu Porcelain – The Treasure in Ming Dynasty Founded by Zhu Yuanzhang

Guo Ziyi deterring enemy army without fighting Tutuhaoyi

Newsletter

Quick Links

CHINESE ICONOGRAPHY

KNOW US MORE

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA