What does the lotus shape commonly seen in jade carvings mean?

There is an old saying in the jade industry that "jade must be crafted; the craftsmanship must have meaning; and the meaning must be auspicious." Every jade carving or ornament has specific ideological meaning and auspicious connotation, as if every piece of stone will tell you a unique and beautiful story of its own, expressing people's yearning for a better life and fully displaying the essence of jade culture.

The beautiful legend of the origin of lotus

According to legend, the lotus is the incarnation of Yu Ji, a beautiful maidservant beside the Queen Mother. At that time, Yu Ji saw the couples in the world, men farming and women weaving, she was very envious, so she was tempted by worldly desires and sneaked out of the Heavenly Palace accompanied by the daughter of the River Goddess and came to the West Lake in Hangzhou. The beautiful scenery of West Lake made Yu Ji linger. She played in the lake with abandon and was reluctant to leave until dawn. When Queen Mother Wang found out, she used her lotus throne to knock Yu Ji into the lake, and made her "sink into the mud, never to ascend to the South Heaven again." From then on, there was one less beautiful maid in the heavenly palace, and one more beautiful flower with jade-like skin and watery beauty was gained in the world.

In addition, there is a wonderful story about "Lady Lotus" in the Buddhist scriptures. It is said that a deer gave birth to a beautiful girl, and an immortal raised her to adulthood. Wherever she walked, lotus flowers would grow. This is the origin of the term "lotus steps", which people now use to describe the glory of their experiences.

Lotus is a traditional famous flower in my country. The flowers and leaves are graceful, and the fragrance is all around, touching the heart. It has the temperament of facing the scorching sun without fear and remaining unstained by the mud. Therefore, in people's minds, lotus is the embodiment of truth, goodness and beauty, a harbinger of good fortune and prosperity, a sacred and pure object in Buddhism, and the seed of friendship.

Giving jade ornaments carved with lotus and lotus leaves to friends represents the ability to remain pure in friendship despite being stained by mud; giving them to newlyweds represents the many seeds in the lotus pod, which gives a feeling of endless life, implying a large family, bloodline inheritance, and early branching out; giving them to administrative officials symbolizes the official's integrity and smooth career path... The jade lotus has become a favorite flower of the Chinese people with its comprehensive symbolism of beauty, love, longevity, and holiness. It has a unique meaning, rich connotations, and inspires imagination.