Cranes in Chinese mythology

Bamboo and Cranes, by Bian Jingzhao

Cranes (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) 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 

Legends and deities[edit]

Evolution of the crane with age[edit]

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 

Cranes carrying pearl[edit]

  • According to a Chinese legend, Tseng sang (a disciple of Confucius) spared the life of a wounded crane which then flew away but later came back to Tseng sang with its mate; both of them were carrying a pearl in their mouth which was then bestowed to Tseng sang.[6]

Chinese deities and immortals[edit]

  • As souls traditionally ride on a crane to go to the Western Heaven; crane illustrations with spread wings can appear in Chinese funeral material culture (e.g. on coffins or a banner in funeral processions).[4]: 108  In the Western Han dynasty silk painting, cranes are depicted standing beside Nüwa.[3]
  • According to a popular story, one day, Lü Dongbin (one of the Eight immortals) drank in a wine shop and instead of paying, he drew 2 dancing cranes on the wall of the inn. The wall painting became famous attracting more customers; however, when the debt was paid, the cranes detached themselves from the wall and flew away.[1]: 206 
  • White Crane Immortal Boy (Xianhe Tongzi), an immortal who was transformed from an immortal crane according to the Investiture of the Gods.[citation needed]

Crane as immortal rides[edit]

A crane which is used as a form of immortal ride is called an immortal crane.[7]

  • In the Shiyiji, Immortals often go to Mount Kunlun to play by riding on dragons and cranes.[5]: 162 
  • The Eight immortals are sometimes depicted in pictures greeting the god of longevity, Shouxing (壽星), who is flying past on a crane through auspicious clouds.[1]: 180, 201 
  • According to Taoist legends, Laozi rode a crane after achieving immortality and cranes stand beside his statues.[3] Some taoist robes are also referred as crane robes (hechang, 鶴氅).[3]
  • Xiwangmu is also often depicted riding a white crane.[4]: 108 
  • Four Immortals Saluting Longevity, by Shang Xi (商喜), early Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The immortals are from left to right: Shide, Hanshan, Iron-Crutch Li, and Liu Haichan. The longevity deity riding the crane.
    Four Immortals Saluting Longevity, by Shang Xi (商喜), early Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The immortals are from left to right: Shide, Hanshan, Iron-Crutch Li, and Liu Haichan. The longevity deity riding the crane.
  • Depiction of the Daoist immortal, He Xiangu, on a flying crane, by Zhang Lu (1464–1538), early 16th century.
    Depiction of the Daoist immortal, He Xiangu, on a flying crane, by Zhang Lu (1464–1538), early 16th century.

Transformation into cranes[edit]

  • In Chinese traditions, when pine trees are old, they can sometimes turn into cranes since both the pine trees and cranes have a long life-time.[6]

Dance[edit]

  • A "dance of the white cranes" is a Chinese dance from the 500 BC in China.[2]

In popular culture[edit]

Cultural significance and symbolism[edit]

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]

Demeanour and temperament[edit]

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]

Longevity[edit]

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]

Crane and pine tree[edit]

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 

Crane and herb of immortality[edit]

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 

Crane and tortoise[edit]

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]

Crane and peaches[edit]

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]

Marker of social ranking in the Imperial Court[edit]

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]

Wishes of prosperity[edit]

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 

Relationship between people[edit]

Snow Plums and Twin Cranes, early Ming dynasty (1368–1644).

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]

Influences and derivative[edit]

Japan[edit]

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]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Eberhard, Wolfram (1986). A dictionary of Chinese symbols : hidden symbols in Chinese life and thought. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-7102-0191-5. OCLC 11970928.
  2. ^ a b c d Meine, Curt (1996). The cranes : status survey and conservation action plan. George Archibald. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. p. 13. ISBN 2-8317-0326-3. OCLC 35769248.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Zhuo, Xinping (2018). Religious faith of the Chinese. Singapore. p. 44. ISBN 978-981-10-6379-4. OCLC 1017489156.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Perkins, Dorothy (2013). Encyclopedia of China : History and Culture. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-93562-7. OCLC 869091722.
  5. ^ a b c Yang, Lihui (2005). Handbook of Chinese mythology. Deming An. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1-57607-807-8. OCLC 61397586.
  6. ^ a b c d A., Johnsgard, Paul (1983-01-01). Cranes of the World: 8. Cranes in Myth and Legend. OCLC 749212887.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b c d Wang, Fade; Zhang, Minglan (2017-11-01). "Different Associations of Animal Words in English and Chinese and the Relevant Translation Strategies" (PDF). Theory and Practice in Language Studies. 7 (11): 1085. doi:10.17507/tpls.0711.17. ISSN 1799-2591.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Rank Badges of Official Costumes of Ming and Qing Dynasties from the Perspective of Social Semiotics--《Language and Semiotic Studies》2021年02期". www.cnki.com.cn. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  9. ^ Christie, Anthony (1968). Chinese mythology. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-00637-9. OCLC 41132.
  10. ^ a b Deney, Joyce (2010). "Longevity in Chinese Art". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  11. ^ a b "Cranes, Peach Tree, and Chinese Roses early 18th century". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-03-04.