Egret
Overview
A bird of the bird-and-flower painting tradition, the egret's reading comes largely from its whiteness and from the settings it appears in.
Meaning
The egret carries the reading of purity through its white colour, and in the compositional tradition it pairs with reeds and water.
Traditional Interpretation
Sources pair the egret with the homophone linking it to 'path' or 'road' in some contexts, which gives it a secondary reading about course.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What does egret symbolize in Chinese tradition?
The egret carries the reading of purity through its white colour, and in the compositional tradition it pairs with reeds and water. A bird of the bird-and-flower painting tradition, the egret's reading comes largely from its whiteness and from the settings it appears in.
Where does the egret appear in Chinese art and custom?
Its use is documented across several registers at once. The egret carries the reading of purity through its white colour, and in the compositional tradition it pairs with reeds and water. The egret standing still in shallow water is the canonical painted pose, and the stillness carries as much of the reading as the colour.
How is egret read in Chinese tradition?
Sources pair the egret with the homophone linking it to 'path' or 'road' in some contexts, which gives it a secondary reading about course. It is grouped under Metal (金) in the five-element system.
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