Lotus is beneficial to human beings: lotus root is edible, lotus seed has nourishing effect, and flowers and leaves can be seen by people. Its lotus root festival, lotus seeds and lotus leaves are all good medicinal materials for Chinese medicine treatment. Where lotus grows, it also has the functions of purifying water quality, optimizing environment and beautifying scenery. Lotus is a combination of divine symbol and practical value, which has already appeared in ancient civilizations of Egypt, India, China and other countries. The ancient Egyptians believed that lotus symbolizes the god of silence and hides the secrets of the gods. Its fragrance is the breath of the gods and is indispensable in religious ceremonies. Buddhism, which originated in India, believes that lotus symbolizes sacredness and immortality. Not only does the bodhisattva sit on the lotus, but the word "lotus" is often seen in Buddhist scriptures. As for China, Zheng Feng in The Book of Songs sang the phrase "Ji has a lotus flower"; By the time Zhou Dunyi, a great philosopher in the Song Dynasty, put forward the theory of "love lotus", the noble image of lotus was more deeply rooted in people's hearts, and the reputation of "a gentleman in a flower" belonged to her. In addition to being used to eating nutritious lotus roots and lotus seeds, folks often put lotus flowers in bottles on tables or plant them in flowerpots to appreciate their charm.
Legend (1)
It is said that a long time ago, there was a fairy in the sky who envied human life. She heard about the beauty of the West Lake in the sky, so she wanted to escape from the Heavenly Palace and see for herself. One day, when the Queen Mother was not at home, she came over the West Lake. She overlooks the mountains and rivers here, and she really deserves her reputation. The fairy was attracted by the beautiful scenery here and never wanted to go back to the Heavenly Palace. Now that the queen mother knows, she will send a heavenly soldier to arrest her. However, the fairy really didn't want to leave the West Lake, crying bitterly, hating that she shouldn't be in the Heavenly Palace, and hating the Queen Mother shouldn't be so harsh. Surrounded and threatened by the heavenly soldiers and generals, the fairy's tears dripped into the West Lake. She threw the hairpin on her head into the West Lake to show her reluctance, left the West Lake and returned to the Heavenly Palace. After a while, the West Lake was full of blooming lotus flowers. From then on, bloom flowers fall, year after year.
Legend (2)
According to legend, there was a scholar in the Yuan Dynasty who met a young girl, who was a beauty in plain clothes. He gave the girl a jade ring. One day, a lotus bloomed by the pool. When he looked closer, he found a jade ring in the lotus room, and he gave it to the girl. In great surprise, he broke the lotus and the girl disappeared from there.