Cranes in Chinese mythology

Short description: Motif in Chinese mythology

Bamboo and Cranes, by Bian Jingzhao

Cranes (simplified Chinese: 鹤; traditional Chinese: 鶴; pinyin: Hè) 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

## Contents

* 1 Legends and deities
* 1.1 Evolution of the crane with age
* 1.2 Cranes carrying pearl
* 1.3 Chinese deities and immortals
* 1.3.1 Crane as immortal rides
* 1.4 Transformation into cranes
* 2 Dance
* 3 In popular culture
* 4 Cultural significance and symbolism
* 4.1 Demeanour and temperament
* 4.2 Longevity
* 4.2.1 Crane and pine tree
* 4.2.2 Crane and herb of immortality
* 4.2.3 Crane and tortoise
* 4.2.4 Crane and peaches
* 4.3 Marker of social ranking in the Imperial Court
* 4.4 Wishes of prosperity
* 4.5 Relationship between people
* 5 Influences and derivative
* 5.1 Japan
* 6 See also
* 7 References

## Legends and deities

### Evolution of the crane with age

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

* 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

* 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

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.

* Depiction of the Daoist immortal, He Xiangu, on a flying crane, by Zhang Lu (1464–1538), early 16th century.

### Transformation into cranes

* 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

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

## In popular culture

* In the Legend of White Snake, a white crane guards precious plants, such as the grass of immortality, which grow on Kunlun.[5]: 163

## Cultural significance and symbolism

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

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

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

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

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

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 Tortoise, from the Mausoleum of Han Emperor Jingdi, Han dynasty.

#### Crane and peaches

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

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]

* Rank badge with crane, early Qing dynasty, late 17th–early 18th century.

* Rank badge with crane, late Qing dynasty, 19th century.

* Rank badge with crane, late 19th century.

* Rank badge with crane, late 19th century.

### Wishes of prosperity

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

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

### Japan

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

* Bigu (avoiding grains), on use of crane bone marrow in a wugu immortality recipe
* Birds in Chinese mythology
* Chinese folklore, for general information on Chinese folklore
* Chinese folk religion, for general information on Chinese folk religion
* Chinese literature, for general information on Chinese literature
* Crane (bird), for general information on the cranes (Gruidae clade)
* Fujian White Crane, on a martial art style based on traditional ideas of the movements of cranes
* The Legend and the Hero, a cinematographic portrayal of the Fengshen Yanyi, with the White Crane Boy character from mythology
* Red-crowned crane, a large east Asian crane, important in mythology and symbolism
* South-pointing chariot, on an ancient technological device portraying associated cranes, tortoises, and xian (Taoist immortals)
* Xian (Taoism), on the Taoist immortals, who were closely associated with cranes, in various ways
* Yellow Crane Tower, on a series of structures of symbolic interest and in Chinese poetry

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 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. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11970928.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Meine, Curt (1996). The cranes : status survey and conservation action plan. George Archibald. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. pp. 13. ISBN 2-8317-0326-3. OCLC 35769248. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/35769248.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Zhuo, Xinping (2018). Religious faith of the Chinese. Singapore. pp. 44. ISBN 978-981-10-6379-4. OCLC 1017489156. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1017489156.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Perkins, Dorothy (2013). Encyclopedia of China : History and Culture.. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-93562-7. OCLC 869091722. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/869091722.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Yang, Lihui (2005). Handbook of Chinese mythology. Deming An. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1-57607-807-8. OCLC 61397586. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61397586.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 A., Johnsgard, Paul (1983-01-01). Cranes of the World: 8. Cranes in Myth and Legend. OCLC 749212887. http://worldcat.org/oclc/749212887.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Wang, Fade; Zhang, Minglan (2017-11-01). "Different Associations of Animal Words in English and Chinese and the Relevant Translation Strategies". Theory and Practice in Language Studies 7 (11): 1085. doi:10.17507/tpls.0711.17. ISSN 1799-2591. http://www.academypublication.com/issues2/tpls/vol07/11/17.pdf.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "Rank Badges of Official Costumes of Ming and Qing Dynasties from the Perspective of Social Semiotics--《Language and Semiotic Studies》2021年02期". https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-LASS202102004.htm.
9. ↑ Christie, Anthony (1968). Chinese mythology.. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-00637-9. OCLC 41132. https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/41132.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Deney, Joyce (2010). "Longevity in Chinese Art". https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/long/hd_long.htm.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Cranes, Peach Tree, and Chinese Roses early 18th century". https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/36105.

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Chinese mythology

Overview topics|

* Creation myth
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* Classic of Mountains and Seas
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* Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
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