For instance, the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum were known as the “Four Gentlemen,” symbolizing the virtues of nobility, endurance, modesty, and integrity.
“Flowers like peonies, plum blossoms, hibiscus, and lotus often appeared, all of which carry auspicious meanings, showcasing the peace and prosperity around the country at the time because of great government leadership and political clarity.”
Chen Xiangfeng, Associate Professor,
Central Academy of Fine Arts
The lotus was an especially popular flower motif, representing nobility, purity, and elegance—and epitomizing the man of virtue and an ideal moral code. The word for lotus, ‘hé’, is a homophone in Chinese with the word for ‘harmony’, and hence it also represents peace. The widespread cultural affinity for harmony and peace is evident in commonly known idioms such as ‘yǐ
hé wéi guí’, or ‘harmony is the most precious thing’. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the lotus has been admired by many scholar-artists, like Song philosopher Zhou Dunyi, who wrote an ode to the lotus flower, stating the famed line, “the lotus grows out of mud but is not stained,” making it an apt metaphor for the qualities of high moral character that all should
strive for.
In
Lotus in Bloom, the artist breathes life into the realistic painting by contrasting the elegant flower’s rosy pink petals with stunning green leaves. Using a technique similar to the later developed ‘boneless’ method—executing color without any sign of outlining—the lotus achieves a
delicate texture and sense of exquisiteness befitting its ‘gentlemanly’ character.
