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Arts & Communication Design application of foliage plants

Chinese crinum is also a representative plant of Buddhism. 4. Application of foliage plants to bionic
People believe that it is the embodiment of Manjushri design
Bodhisattva’s wisdom on earth, symbolizing the teaching
and guidance of people. 4.1. Morphological bionics
In Taoist legend, lotus and cypress are common foliage In foliage plants, the term “morphological bionics” refers
plants that correspond to the religious symbols of goodness to the application of realistic approaches to convey the
and longevity, respectively. In addition, pine, cypress, symbolic meaning of plant components. The product is
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ginkgo, lotus, and bamboo are often planted in temples to given a formal beauty by accurately replicating the leaf or
express a quiet and noble religious esthetic atmosphere. plant form.
The modeling of ancient artifacts demonstrates the use
3.3. Folk culture
of bionic design for foliage plants. According to author
As a great country with a history spanning more than Qian Handong, “Under the general environment of Song
5,000 years, China has no shortage of festivals and Dynasty porcelain, pottery lotus incense burner, with
ceremonies, and foliage plants also play an important role rich cultural connotations, can be said to be unique.”
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in various folk cultures. For example, the Ruyao, a rare variety of chinaware from
Calamus is the traditional symbol of the Dragon Boat the Song Dynasty, imitates nature in shape, structure,
Festival. As shown in Figure 1, after the 5 month of the and style and shows the esthetic style of skillful elegance
th
lunar calendar, the ancients hung calamus and wormwood and quietness. As shown in Figure 2, the lotus-style wine
and drank calamus wine to avoid mosquito harassment warmer that Ruyao possesses is smooth and vibrant,
and drive away evil spirits. giving people a feeling of gentleness and elegance as well as
simplicity and dignity.
To celebrate the beginning of spring, the ancients often
used Angelica dahurica, an herb that is boiled in water There are two types of lotus lamps imitating the shape
for bathing, to drive away the cold, and for ceremonial of the lotus flower in modern design. Figure 3 presents a
purposes. Angelica dahurica is one of the most common type of lotus lamp that absorbs the production process of
plants in The Songs of Chu, written by the great poet Qu traditional lanterns and adopts memory alloy material. It
Yuan. It grows in dark forests or streamside environments. can remember two shapes when the material is heated and
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It can dispel wind and relieve pain, and it is often used as cooled, and the petals gradually unfold when the bulb glows
a common material for making anti-epidemic-scented and becomes hot to mimic the subtle movements in nature.
sachets. Furthermore, essential oils can be added to emit a fragrance
that will help the user relax and reconnect with nature.
In other traditional Chinese customs, blessings for
newlyweds are often given in the form of Reineckea and 4.2. Texture bionics
evergreens, whereas calla lilies and cypress branches The texture of leaves is the essential expression of the original
are commonly used as a sign of respect at occasions of characteristics of nature, reflecting the beauty of texture that
mourning such as burials and grave-sweeping.

Figure 1. The custom of hanging calamus and wormwood on the Dragon
Boat Festival. 31 Figure 2. Lotus-style warm bowl. 41

3 Photo reference: https://www.163.com/dy/article/ 4 Photo reference: https://auction.artron.net/paimai-
I6AS29TF0552LSYM.html [Last accessed: 18 October 2023] art5051470643) [Last accessed: 18 October 2023]

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/ac.1854