The Chinese nation loves flowers. The lotus flower is one of the top ten most famous flower species in China, and has been the most favored one for hundreds of years. Grown in muddy swamps and risen above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty, the exquisite flower is huge in size, bright in color, fragrant in scent, and extremely adaptive. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater; at dawn it rises and opens again. Untouched by any impurities, the lotus symbolizes purity of the heart and mind and represents long life, humility, honor and tranquility.

White Lotus

Chinese people have an abiding fondness for lotus flowers. Literary people through the ages praised the lotus, chanted the eulogy of the lotus and painted lotuses. It is the subject of poems and paintings with great artistic appeal; it is the material of graceful dances; and it is a common pattern and design in various architectural decorations, sculptures and daily utensils. The adoration of the lotus has formed a unique “Lotus culture,” lasting a long time in China.

Famous Paintings of Past Generations

Lotus Rising from the Water, by Wu Bing, Song Dynasty (960-1279)

Exhibited in the Beijing palace museum, this is a widely recognized and the oldest lotus painting in the museum. On a white ground, the petals are meticulously drawn in light red ink; the green leaves are solidly colored, their veins clearly visible and some of them curled, in total harmony with the redness of the flower and constituting a richly textured picture. The fascinating life-like portrayal shows appreciation for the blooming life and offers a glimpse of the artistic heights attained by Song flower-and-bird painting.