The meaning of ancient handkerchief flowers

Lotus is an aquatic perennial plant of Nymphaeaceae, which has a high position in China traditional culture. It can be divided into two aspects: sacred and vulgar. Lotus in Buddhism is different from the secular world. It is said that Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, planted many kinds of lotus flowers in his hometown. He and his disciples used the lotus as a metaphor to explain Buddhism. The so-called "pure land of Buddha, with lotus as its habitat" refers to the Buddhist country, which is called "lotus hiding place", giving lotus a sacred meaning. Buddhist scriptures are called Lotus Sutra, Buddhas are called Lotus Terrace and Lotus Yu, cassocks are called Lotus Clothes, and lotus niches are called Lotus. In Buddhism, the so-called "Lotus Three Metaphors" use "China because it is a lotus", "Lotus" and "Falling Lotus" to describe the development and rise and fall of Buddhism. Therefore, lotus has become a symbol of Buddhism, and all Buddhist buildings, statues, murals and utensils have the image of lotus. In the secular world, lotus has become the object of people's appreciation and picking, and has been endowed with cultural symbolic significance. Compendium of Materia Medica calls lotus a "gentleman in flowers". "Qunfangpu" said: "Everything comes first, and then it is true, and this is the only one. A hundred knots are sparse, ten thousand thieves are exquisite, graceful and gorgeous, and the mud is not stained, and the gentleman in the flower is also. " Zhou Dunyi's Love Lotus summarizes the beauty and virtue of lotus. Therefore, as a mascot, lotus is widely used in traditional Chinese patterns. In the embroidery pattern, "Lianke Road" symbolizes the promotion of Lotus and Crane; "One product is clean and honest" is compared with the nobility of Lotus as an official. "Year after year" means peace and good luck with lotus flowers and ruyi grass; "Lotus gives birth to your son" uses lotus flowers and boys to symbolize that your son gives birth to your son early, and many children are more blessed. Hua Die plays the lotus, Yuanyang plays the lotus, Pisces plays the lotus, and because the lotus is in pairs. Taking the lotus flower and various animals or their own products as a metaphor, Five Blessingg praised "the fisherman gains" and "the lotus flower", which is called "the dragonfly lotus flower" by Buddhist temples, and has a happy love and a happy marriage. "A boy playing with lotus", "One heart and one mind" and "More than one year" mean that many children are blessed, men and women are happy, rich and prosperous, and safe and prosperous.

2. Peony

Peony belongs to Ranunculaceae shrub and is called "the king of flowers", and there are also "deer leek", "mouse aunt" and "hundred taels of gold". Its unique character gradually permeates people's ideas and becomes a common mascot. In the traditional patterns of China, peony often appears as a symbol of wealth, either alone or in combination with animals, plants, figures and geometric shapes. Patterns such as "wealth", "peace and wealth" and "wealth and good fortune" represented by peony and its combination with bergamot, vase, number case and geometric modeling. Patterns such as "rich and longevity" and "extremely rich" are composed of peony, peach blossom, cat and butterfly, meaning longevity and wealth. Patterns such as "Grow Old Together", "Beat Peony" and "Hua Die Peony" symbolize happy marriage, loving husband and wife and growing old together. Cultural meanings such as "Flowers bloom with wealth", "Chinese New Year", "Full house with wealth" and "Ivy" mean love, marriage, peace, wealth and longevity.

3. plum blossom

Plum blossom is a deciduous tree in Rosaceae, and its fruit has certain practical value. Not only can it be eaten raw, but it can also be made into dried fruit food, which has the effect of relieving fever and cough. Plum blossom has been cultivated in China for 4000 years, originated in Sichuan, and widely planted all over the country, becoming the main flower variety for people to watch. The ancients thought that plum blossom was "the most beautiful in nature, blooming alone in cold years", and it was one of the four gentlemen in flowers, symbolizing the highest ideal of China literati's character. Plum blossom has a high ornamental value, and scholars at all times like to cultivate it. Plum blossoms bloom in the cold of a year, and cold plums bloom in spring, which indicates good luck and celebration. The plum blossom is divided into five petals, symbolizing Five Blessingg, that is, happiness, happiness, longevity, smoothness and peace. In folk embroidery patterns, plum, bamboo and orchid are represented as "three friends who are old and cold", symbolizing long-term friendship; "Brilliant Lan Mei" means that the intelligence is competitive and the future is bright; The arrival of "Magpie on Plum" also means noble love and happy marriage; Hong Mei Kai, Xun Mei Walking in the Snow, Mei Zhu Kai, Mei Zhu Ying Chun, etc. , a symbol of beautiful spring scenery, mostly used for weddings and celebrations.

4.pomegranate

Pomegranate belongs to deciduous trees of pomegranate family, also known as Anpo Pomegranate, Tanruo, Tulin, Jinbiao and Tianjiang. It blooms in May of the lunar calendar every year, which is in summer, so people call pomegranate flowers, orchids, irises and begonia flowers "four seasons flowers". History said that pomegranate was brought back from Anshi by Zhang Qian in the Western Han Dynasty, so it was called "An Pomegranate". Pomegranate bears many seeds, which symbolizes many seeds and many blessings in China traditional mascots. Among the embroidery patterns, there are pomegranates, peonies and bats. It is used to symbolize many children and many blessings, and there are patterns such as "pomegranate opens a hundred children" and "many children and many blessings".

Interpretation of Li Hongfu Folk Embroidery Pattern Symbols