The cuckoo is also called Du Yu, Zigui, and Urging. It always chirps towards the north, and in June and July it whines, day and night, and makes a very mournful sound. That's why it's called the cuckoo. Synonyms: Zigui, cuckoo, Du Yu, tí jué, often referring to about 60 arboreal species of the Rhododendron subfamily and the subfamily Dijuan. Cuckoos are found in temperate and tropical regions of the world, especially in the eastern hemisphere. Rhododendron inhabits densely vegetated places and is timid, often hearing its sound but not seeing its shape. The body length varies, most species are grayish-brown or brown, but a few species have distinct russet or white spots, and most or part of the body is a brilliant emerald green.
The cuckoo bird has been endowed with rich symbolism and profound cultural connotations in Chinese culture. With their mournful cries, poignant forms, and close connection with human emotions, they have become an emotional image in Chinese culture. Below, let's step into the world of cuckoo birds and explore their symbolism and meaning in Chinese culture.
First of all, the cuckoo bird's cry is extremely mournful, like looking forward to the return of the child, so it is named "the cuckoo cries back". In Chinese culture, this sound is seen as a symbol of pity and sorrow, and is often used to convey a sad atmosphere or a feeling of homesickness. In Chinese poetry and songs, the call of the cuckoo bird is often used to express people's feelings of longing for their hometown and relatives.
Secondly, the cuckoo bird's oral epithelium and tongue are red, and the ancients mistakenly thought that it was "crying" so much that its mouth was full of blood, which led to many legends and poems about "cuckoo crying blood" and "crying blood and resentment". In these legends and poems, the cuckoo bird is given a symbolic meaning of purity, sincerity, and sorrow.
There are many poems and songs about the cuckoo in Chinese folk, and the most typical allusion is the story of the cuckoo turned into a cuckoo by Emperor Wang. Emperor Wangdi was Du Yu, the king of Shu at the end of the Zhou Dynasty, who was transformed into a zigui bird (i.e., a cuckoo bird) after his death, and its cry was like "quickly cut wheat", "quickly cut grain" or "cuckoo, cuckoo", in order to guide the people to work hard. The story connects the cuckoo bird with the spirit of farming, symbolizing industriousness and dedication.
In addition, the idiom of our country"The dove occupies the magpie's nest"The dove in the is said to be the cuckoo. Legend has it that the top 10 deception masters were selected in the animal kingdom and tied for a leaderboard, with the cuckoo at the top of the list. It is said that it is a hideous-looking, cruel, and tyrannical bird, and it is a hooligan among birds. Extremely irresponsible for raising offspring, he is too lazy to make a nest, lay eggs in other birds' nests, and hatch and feed them by other birds. The reputation of the cuckoo bird is really not very good.
Overall, the cuckoo bird is an emotional figure in Chinese culture, and its call, shape, and connection to human emotions make it a creature rich in symbolism and meaning. Whether as a symbol of homesickness, a symbol of industriousness, or a symbol of sadness and purity, the cuckoo bird has deeply influenced the development of Chinese culture in its unique way.
Through the above introduction, we can see that the symbolism and meaning of the cuckoo bird in Chinese culture are very rich. With their mournful cries, poignant forms, and close connection with human emotions, they have become an emotional image in Chinese culture.