1.
lotus; sacred lotus
An aquatic plant with large round leaves and distinctive pink or white flowers. Deeply significant in Buddhism and Japanese culture.
The lotus holds deep significance in Japanese Buddhism. It symbolizes purity because it blooms beautifully despite growing from muddy water — a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment arising from the suffering of the material world. The lotus is depicted in Buddhist art beneath statues of the Buddha and bodhisattvas.
Common collocations
- 蓮の花: lotus flower
- 蓮の葉: lotus leaf
- 蓮の実: lotus seed
- 蓮根: lotus root (a common vegetable in Japanese cuisine)
- 蓮池: lotus pond
Similar words
- 睡蓮: water lily — often confused with lotus, but a different plant with leaves that float flat on the water
- 蓮根: lotus root — the edible underground stem of the lotus plant, commonly used in cooking
Cultural note
The Buddhist phrase 泥中の蓮 (lotus in the mud) expresses the idea of maintaining purity amid corruption. The 蓮華座 (lotus position) is the cross-legged meditation posture depicted in Buddhist statuary.