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Cranes ( simplified Chinese: 鹤; traditional Chinese: 鶴; pinyin: Hè) are an important motif in Chinese mythology. There are various myths involving cranes, and in Chinese mythology cranes are generally symbolically connected with the idea of longevity. [1]: 86–87 [2] [3] In China, the crane mythology is associated with the divine bird worship in the animal totemism; cranes have a spiritual meaning where they are a form of divine bird which travels between heaven and man's world. [3] Cranes regularly appear in Chinese arts such as paintings, tapestry, and decorative arts; they are also often depicted carrying the souls of the deceased to heaven. [2] The crane is the second most important bird after the fenghuang, the symbol of the empress, in China. [4]: 108
The motifs of cranes may vary in a range from reference to real cranes (such as the red-crowned crane) referring to transformed Taoist immortals ( xian), who sometimes were said to have magical abilities to transform into cranes in order to fly on various journeys.[ citation needed] When a taoist priest dies, it is referred as yuhua (羽化; lit. "turning into a feathered (Crane)"). [1]: 86–87
Chinese mythology refers to those myths found in the historical geographic area of China. The geographic area of "China" is of course a concept which has evolved of changed through history. Chinese mythology include myths in Chinese and other languages, as transmitted by Han Chinese as well as other minority ethnic groups. [5]: 4
According to some Chinese legends, there are 4 kinds of cranes which differ in colours: white, yellow, blue, and black. [4]: 108 The black crane is believed to have lived for centuries. [4]: 108 According to Chinese legends, at the age of 1000, a crane would turn grey and after another 1000 years, the crane would turn dark; thus being termed as "the mysterious crane". [3] According to some legends, a black crane no longer eats food and only drinks water when it turns 600 years old. [4]: 108
A crane which is used as a form of immortal ride is called an immortal crane. [7]
In East Asian culture (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam), the red-crowned crane is a symbol of happiness. good luck, long life, and marital bliss. [2]
In ancient Chinese legends, the crane shows the elegance of the immortals, which included the meaning of elegance, moral integrity and the personal dignity of the immortals. [8] The crane is often praised in classical Chinese literature and is perceived as elegant and graceful, and when a crane spreads its wings, it reflects an outstanding temperament. [8]
Cranes are one of the symbols of longevity in Chinese culture; as such, they are often depicted together with a pine tree or a stone, or together with a tortoise or a deer. [1]: 86–87 [4]: 108 It is also customary for Chinese people to give the picture of a crane to elderly people on their birthdays as it symbolizes good health and longevity. [7]
Pine trees and cranes together are symbols of longevity [3] and also symbolize the last years of a long life. [1]: 292 When flying cranes are combined with growing pines, the symbol of longevity is intensified. [1]: 183
In popular prints, a crane is sometimes depicted with the herb of immortality ( zhi) in its beak; this is a double symbol of longevity. [1]: 180
According to Chinese beliefs, the combination of a tortoise and crane is associated with longevity. [7] Like the crane, the tortoise is also one of the symbols of longevity in Chinese culture. [7]
The combination of a crane with peaches is one of the Chinese symbols of longevity, [9] due to their associations with immortals (i.e. they were used as conveyance for immortals [10]). [11] Both of them are symbols of longevity in Chinese mythology. [1]: 86–87 Immortals are often depicted on the back of cranes while mythical peaches are believed to grow in the orchard of Xiwangmu; therefore the combination of peaches and immortals evoke penglai, which is an isle for immortals. [11]
Cranes were depicted on the mandarin square of the Ming and Qing dynasties' court robes. [8] In the Ming dynasty, the first class civil official would wear a buzi with a fairy crane ( Chinese: 仙鹤; pinyin: xiānhè). [8] The crane mandarin square when combined in a crane, water, clouds, and blue sky design reflects the emphasis on the wisdom and talent of the Chinese Imperial court's civil officials. [8]
The illustrations of two cranes flying up towards the sun is used to express the wishes that the recipient of the illustration may 'rise high'. [1]: 86–87
When a crane is depicted with a fenghuang, mandarin duck, heron and a wagtail, this represents the Confucianist concepts of the five relationship between people (五伦). [1]: 86–87 In this particular combination, the crane symbolizes the relationship between father and son. [1]: 86–87
Depictions of cranes in pairs were also associated with elderly couples as white feathers give the impression of the white hair of an elderly. [10]
The Japanese accepted the concept that the crane represented longevity when Chinese culture gradually influenced Japanese culture; the Japanese then gradually modified into becoming a symbol of joy. [6] Since the 9th century, cranes are considered a symbol of happiness and the combination of a crane and tortoise is used in marriage ceremonies to represent both happiness and longevity. [6]
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![]() | This article includes a list of general
references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding
inline citations. (November 2019) |
Cranes ( simplified Chinese: 鹤; traditional Chinese: 鶴; pinyin: Hè) are an important motif in Chinese mythology. There are various myths involving cranes, and in Chinese mythology cranes are generally symbolically connected with the idea of longevity. [1]: 86–87 [2] [3] In China, the crane mythology is associated with the divine bird worship in the animal totemism; cranes have a spiritual meaning where they are a form of divine bird which travels between heaven and man's world. [3] Cranes regularly appear in Chinese arts such as paintings, tapestry, and decorative arts; they are also often depicted carrying the souls of the deceased to heaven. [2] The crane is the second most important bird after the fenghuang, the symbol of the empress, in China. [4]: 108
The motifs of cranes may vary in a range from reference to real cranes (such as the red-crowned crane) referring to transformed Taoist immortals ( xian), who sometimes were said to have magical abilities to transform into cranes in order to fly on various journeys.[ citation needed] When a taoist priest dies, it is referred as yuhua (羽化; lit. "turning into a feathered (Crane)"). [1]: 86–87
Chinese mythology refers to those myths found in the historical geographic area of China. The geographic area of "China" is of course a concept which has evolved of changed through history. Chinese mythology include myths in Chinese and other languages, as transmitted by Han Chinese as well as other minority ethnic groups. [5]: 4
According to some Chinese legends, there are 4 kinds of cranes which differ in colours: white, yellow, blue, and black. [4]: 108 The black crane is believed to have lived for centuries. [4]: 108 According to Chinese legends, at the age of 1000, a crane would turn grey and after another 1000 years, the crane would turn dark; thus being termed as "the mysterious crane". [3] According to some legends, a black crane no longer eats food and only drinks water when it turns 600 years old. [4]: 108
A crane which is used as a form of immortal ride is called an immortal crane. [7]
In East Asian culture (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam), the red-crowned crane is a symbol of happiness. good luck, long life, and marital bliss. [2]
In ancient Chinese legends, the crane shows the elegance of the immortals, which included the meaning of elegance, moral integrity and the personal dignity of the immortals. [8] The crane is often praised in classical Chinese literature and is perceived as elegant and graceful, and when a crane spreads its wings, it reflects an outstanding temperament. [8]
Cranes are one of the symbols of longevity in Chinese culture; as such, they are often depicted together with a pine tree or a stone, or together with a tortoise or a deer. [1]: 86–87 [4]: 108 It is also customary for Chinese people to give the picture of a crane to elderly people on their birthdays as it symbolizes good health and longevity. [7]
Pine trees and cranes together are symbols of longevity [3] and also symbolize the last years of a long life. [1]: 292 When flying cranes are combined with growing pines, the symbol of longevity is intensified. [1]: 183
In popular prints, a crane is sometimes depicted with the herb of immortality ( zhi) in its beak; this is a double symbol of longevity. [1]: 180
According to Chinese beliefs, the combination of a tortoise and crane is associated with longevity. [7] Like the crane, the tortoise is also one of the symbols of longevity in Chinese culture. [7]
The combination of a crane with peaches is one of the Chinese symbols of longevity, [9] due to their associations with immortals (i.e. they were used as conveyance for immortals [10]). [11] Both of them are symbols of longevity in Chinese mythology. [1]: 86–87 Immortals are often depicted on the back of cranes while mythical peaches are believed to grow in the orchard of Xiwangmu; therefore the combination of peaches and immortals evoke penglai, which is an isle for immortals. [11]
Cranes were depicted on the mandarin square of the Ming and Qing dynasties' court robes. [8] In the Ming dynasty, the first class civil official would wear a buzi with a fairy crane ( Chinese: 仙鹤; pinyin: xiānhè). [8] The crane mandarin square when combined in a crane, water, clouds, and blue sky design reflects the emphasis on the wisdom and talent of the Chinese Imperial court's civil officials. [8]
The illustrations of two cranes flying up towards the sun is used to express the wishes that the recipient of the illustration may 'rise high'. [1]: 86–87
When a crane is depicted with a fenghuang, mandarin duck, heron and a wagtail, this represents the Confucianist concepts of the five relationship between people (五伦). [1]: 86–87 In this particular combination, the crane symbolizes the relationship between father and son. [1]: 86–87
Depictions of cranes in pairs were also associated with elderly couples as white feathers give the impression of the white hair of an elderly. [10]
The Japanese accepted the concept that the crane represented longevity when Chinese culture gradually influenced Japanese culture; the Japanese then gradually modified into becoming a symbol of joy. [6] Since the 9th century, cranes are considered a symbol of happiness and the combination of a crane and tortoise is used in marriage ceremonies to represent both happiness and longevity. [6]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)