Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Traditional virtues - Mandarin ducks did not refer to brotherly love in ancient times

Mandarin ducks did not refer to brotherly love in ancient times

Mandarin ducks did not refer to brotherly love in ancient times.

I. Definition and Image of Mandarin Ducks

Mandarin Ducks, a type of bird that lives in the water, Mandarin Ducks is a genus of Mandarin Ducks in the family Duckidae. Mandarin ducks are about 44.5 centimeters long; head and back are grayish brown; cheeks, base of the beak, and throat are white, the rest of the upper body is olive-brown, and the tail turns dark brown; the side of the chest and the two coats are tan; the abdomen and the under-tail coverts are white; and the males and females are heterochromatic.

Males and females are usually found in pairs and are known for their beautiful plumage and affectionate behavior. According to the evolution of customs and cultural traditions, people began to associate mandarin ducks with the ties and attachments between husband and wife.

II. Imagery of Mandarin Ducks in Ancient Literature

In ancient literature, mandarin ducks are often used to express the intimacy and emotional bond between husband and wife. For example, in Dream of the Red Chamber, the love between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu is described as "mandarin ducks comparing wings", which expresses their deep affection and mutual understanding. In traditional weddings, people also often use fabrics or objects with the design of mandarin ducks to symbolize the intimate relationship between husband and wife.

The symbolism of mandarin ducks in ancient art

Besides literary works, mandarin ducks were also widely used in ancient art with symbolic meaning. For example, in paintings and embroidery works, mandarin ducks are often depicted as a pair of **** dancing male and female birds, symbolizing harmony, love and happiness between husband and wife. The use of this imagery reflects the importance and blessings ancient people attached to the emotions of husband and wife.

Fourth, the connection between mandarin ducks and brotherly love

While mandarin ducks are usually used to depict the emotions between husband and wife in literature and art, there is no specific reference to the meaning of brotherly love. In ancient Chinese culture, brotherly love was often expressed in other images and metaphors, such as "hand and foot" or "brothers with one heart". Therefore, mandarin ducks are not a specific symbol of brotherly love.

To summarize, although mandarin ducks were often used in ancient literature and art to express the feelings between husband and wife, they did not specifically refer to brotherly love. Mandarin ducks were more often associated with marital relations, representing the closeness and tacit understanding between husband and wife. Brotherly love, on the other hand, is depicted in other metaphors and images, demonstrating the deep emotion and intimacy between brothers.