The lotus is an emblematic flower of purity and appears in many ancient Asian cultures. It is a special kind of flower that people love and idolise, especially in Buddhist culture. The national flower of Vietnam has interesting meanings in various aspects such as culture, arts and food.
I. Significance of the lotus symbol in Vietnamese culture
1. In Vietnamese Buddhism
Although there are other flowers more beautiful and aromatic than the lotus, the lotus flower was chosen to be the Buddha’s altar because of its philosophical meanings relating to the elegance and good behaviour of human beings that the Buddha tried to teach.
First of all, the periods of growth of the lotus can be understood as representative of five characters, purity, purification, modesty, integrity and perseverance. The lotus grows in dark marshes and tries to rise above the surface of the water to receive sunlight and fresh air, but it is not tainted by dirty mud (purity). Once fully grown, it purifies the water around it (purification). What’s more, the lotus gives off an elegant scent, light and not too strong (modesty).
Throughout its life, no insect gets hold of the lotus nectar, even though the lotus flower is beautiful and gives off a fragrant smell (integrity). And despite the difficult conditions in which it grows, the lotus continues to blossom into magnificent flowers on lakes (endurance). These are the profound messages that Buddhists have recognised in the image of the lotus.
The image of the lotus is also similar to the philosophy of yin and yang. The flowers bloom entirely above the water, which is yang, while the rest under the water is a representation of yin. So the lotus as a whole is a perfect combination of yin and yang, heaven and earth.
2. A symbol of Vietnamese characters
Lotus flowers germinate inside the mud, purify the soil to obtain all the nutrients and rise above the water to show its beauty. The five characters of its growth periods (purity, purification, modesty, integrity and endurance) are also used to describe Vietnamese characters and serve as a guideline for desired behaviour.
Throughout Vietnam’s history, from Chinese domination to the Indochina wars, the Vietnamese have tried to fight perseveringly and aggressively against enemies to protect their country. However, their way of life is simple: the Vietnamese have always tried to be friendly and kind to each other. In addition to the traditions of perseverance and humility, other characters such as grace and diligence are always praised and taught to children by their parents or grandparents.
3. In Vietnamese daily life
The lotus has not been officially recognised as Vietnam’s national flower, despite its predominance in many votes for this position. But its image is still widely attached to and associated with the country, and has become the logo of many Vietnamese brands.
Vietnam Airlines, for example, has officially used the Vietnamese lotus symbol to advertise its brand. Tourists all over the world can easily recognise the planes, which bring a meaningful message to many places.
4. In Vietnamese cuisine and medicine
In Vietnamese cuisine, the lotus is one of the special natural ingredients used to prepare many traditional dishes. It is also used as an effective medicine that can cure certain illnesses according to Oriental medicine. For example, lotus pods are often assembled to help people reduce their blood pressure or stop bleeding.
Other parts of the lotus plant may be the main ingredients used to prepare certain traditional foods and drinks, such as Vietnamese salad and lotus jelly. In Hue, the leaves of the fragrant lotus flower are often used to brew tea overnight. This is one of the favourite drinks of Vietnamese royalty, and was once used to celebrate kings. In the north, the lotus leaf is an unchanging ingredient used as a wrapper for ‘Com’ (green sticky rice), as only lotus leaves can preserve the original taste and aroma of the sticky rice. The green colour of the leaves serves to decorate the dish and make it more attractive.
Other parts of the lotus that are used to cook many delicious Vietnamese dishes are the root, the seeds and the feathers. For example, the root and seeds can be used to make a mouth-watering sweet soup or a refreshing salad; they contain a high percentage of vitamins and minerals that are good for your health. In addition, the bitter plumules of the lotus, inside the lotus seeds, are often soaked in boiled water to prepare a medicinal drink that reduces internal heat and thus relieves the cold.
5. In Vietnamese art
In ancient Vietnamese Buddhist architecture, the image of the lotus flower has always been a sacred icon. The most prosperous periods of Buddhism were during the Ly dynasty, in the 11th century, and there were many temples, pagodas and sanctuaries decorated with lotus flower motifs on the walls and statues inside. One type of architecture that still survives today is the one-pillar pagoda. But in Hanoi, there is another pagoda famous for its lotus symbol, the Kim Lien pagoda (the golden lotus pagoda). It was built and designed around the 17th century.
6. In Vietnamese poetry
Here’s a Vietnamese folk song that praises the beauty of the lotus:
‘Trong đầm gì đẹp bằng sen
Lá xanh bông trắng lại chen nhị vàng
Nhị vàng bông trắng lá xanh
Gần bùn mà chẳng hôi tanh mùi bùn ’
In the marsh, there is nothing as magnificent as the lotus. Its combination of colours (green leaves, white flowers and yellow nectar) is perfect. And its fragrant aroma dominates the smell of the muddy water.
Since then, the symbol of the lotus in Vietnamese culture has continued to be adored by many poets and writers. Here is another poem that uses the elegant beauty of the lotus to compare and praise the characters of President Ho Chi Minh.
‘Tháp Mười đẹp nhất bông sen’.
Việt Nam đẹp nhất có tên Bác Hồ’
II. Interesting things about national flower of Vietnam
The lotus is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful flowers. You see it everywhere, in art, architecture, fashion and design. But despite the familiarity of the lotus, there’s still a lot people don’t know about Vietnam’s national flower. Let’s take a look.
1. The colours have different meanings
Lotus flowers can come in many different colours, and each carries its own meaning. White represents purity, while pink shows devotion to Buddha. Blue, with its wisdom and logic, represents enlightenment. Violet shows spirituality, and green is the colour of rebirth. If you are thinking of giving the lotus as a gift, think about the message you want to convey.
2. The lotus flower regulates temperature
Even when external conditions fluctuate wildly, the lotus flower maintains a relatively stable internal temperature. This change is thought to be biochemical, rather than structural. When the temperature drops, the flower oxidises carbohydrates to produce heat.
3. Lotus tea
Lotus tea is part of many festivals and ceremonies in Vietnam. To prepare it, the tea is enclosed in the flower to infuse its fragrance. Another method is to cook the stamens – the part of the flower that produces pollen – with the tea leaves in an oven. This process is repeated several times to enhance the flavour.
4 – Sleeping under water
When night falls in Vietnam, the lotus flower closes and sinks, hiding its purity for the night. Then, when the sun rises on a new day, the lotus reappears to show off its beauty once again – which is why it is also called the dawn flower.
5. The flower fades after two months
Once the lotus flower emerges on Vietnam’s many ponds and lakes, it generally survives for about two months. After that, they fade and lose their shape. This usually happens around July or August.
6. The beauty of mud
The lotus is synonymous with beauty in Vietnam. It cuts through mud and grime to show the world its colour and shape. The Vietnamese see the lotus as a symbol of beauty overcoming darkness.
7. When it blooms depends on the region
In the north of Vietnam, where the rains come earlier and more regularly, the lotus flowers from March onwards. In the south of the country, on the other hand, the lotus generally doesn’t flower until May.
8. The Bitexco tower was designed to resemble a lotus
The Bitexco Tower – the tallest in Vietnam before Landmark 81 surpassed it in 2017 – is an eye-catching curiosity in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. The tower’s designer, Carlos Zapata, was inspired by the lotus to create the tower’s curved shape.
9. Lotus seeds still growing after a thousand years
According to this story, lotus plants have been grown from seeds found in the bed of a dry lake in northern China – seeds that are over a thousand years old. And the strangest thing is that these ancient seeds actually germinated faster than modern seeds.
10. The lotus is part of Vietnamese cuisine
While the lotus flower is used for tea, the stem is used in Vietnamese-style salads, called Gỏi. The roasted seeds of young lotus flowers also make a tasty snack. The leaves of older plants are commonly used to wrap foods, such as steamed rice and certain types of fish. With so many uses for such a beautiful flower, it’s not surprising that the lotus was chosen as the national flower, with 71.1% of the vote.
Most Vietnamese people were proud when the lotus became the symbolic national icon. Not only is it a beautiful flower with a great combination of colours, but the lotus also represents the most desired traits of a Vietnamese, such as grace and diligence, as well as humility and perseverance. This is why Vietnam, with its friendly and good-natured people, always welcomes people from all over the world to visit its country.
