Step 3 of 10

Flowers

Narcissus Tazetta - Chinese Sacred Lily 水仙花 - wikicommons

Narcissus Tazetta - Chinese Sacred Lily 水仙花 - wikicommons

Let us start with the flower motif on the dress. These flowers are narcissi, more specifically: Narcissus Tazetta or Chinese Sacred Lily (水仙花). The Chinese name literally translates to “water fairy”. Perchance, because this particular species can grow up to 80 cm and doesn’t need soil to survive, the connection was made that the Chinese Sacred Lily represented a brand of purity and cleanliness as well as honesty and lack of corruption.[cf, p 209] Besides these connotations, the flower is also seen as a symbol of luck.