Page 28 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book
P. 28
A-Z 21
Axe
fu
The axe is one of the twelve insignia of the imperial power. At the same time, it
symbolises Lu Ban, the patron saint of carpenters, and also the village broker or male or
female go-between.
Buddhist axe
Azalea
du-juan-hua
A beautiful woman is often compared to an azalea, which is also known as the
‘cuckoo flower’. The Chinese cuckoo (du-juan) plays a very big part in the folklore of
Sichuan. They say that the cuckoo sings all night through until its throat is bloody; and
whoever hears its first cry in the morning is about to be separated from his sweetheart.
The azalea is very common in Sichuan, and it is probable that it gets its Chinese name
from its resemblance to the red colour of the cuckoo’s throat.
