由于荷花一般在夏季盛开
古时便将盛夏时节的农历六月二十四日
（2022年7月22日）
定为荷花生日，也称“观莲节”、“观荷节”
荷花因而又有“六月花神”的雅号
Ancient Chinese observed the birthday of the Lotus flower, also called “Viewing Lotus Day”, on the 24th of the sixth lunar month (July 22, 2022) because lotus flowers bloom in summer. So the lotus flower is also called “Goddess of Flower in the sixth lunar month”.
中国是世界上栽培利用荷花最早的国家
以它的观赏性和实用性走进人们的生活
荷花不仅色彩艳丽、风姿幽雅
莲花、莲叶、莲子、莲藕自古又都是美食原料
而且具有养生保健的功效
China cultivated lotuses earilier than other courtries. The plant is very popular for its functional and decorative features. The flowers are beautiful and elegant, while the seeds, leaves, roots and flowers are all great cooking ingredients, with the added benefit of being good for our health.
荷花作为观赏植物引种至园池栽植
和苏州大有渊源
据载最早在公元前473年
吴王夫差在他的离宫（即现苏州灵岩山）
为宠妃西施赏荷而修筑了“玩花池”
The cultivation of lotus flower can be traced back to 473 B.C., when the King of the State of Wu, Fuchai, built a “flower pond” in his palace (present Lingyan Hill in Suzhou) for his favorite concubine, Xishi, to enjoy lotuses.
荷花的“荷”字取谐音
对应着中国传统文化中讲究的“和”
象征着和平、和谐
“出淤泥而不染，濯清涟而不妖”
荷花也在传统文化中被看作“君子之花”
Lotus “荷”[hé] is pronounced the same way as “和” meaning peace and harmony. In addition, lotus is also regarded as the “Scholar Flower” for its merit of being pure, just as the famous line of an ancient Chinese poem goes: “lotus flowers remain unsullied although growing out of mud”
荷花的形象被广泛运用到诗词、绘画、
雕塑、建筑、工艺、服饰等方面
是既有情趣又饱含吉祥寓意的图案纹饰
表达人们“连（莲）生贵子”、
“连（莲）年有余（鱼）”的美好思想愿望
The image of lotus flowers is widely used in different arts, such as poetry, painting, sculpture, building, arts and crafts, and attire, representing auspicious meanings as well as good wishes.
六悦博物馆中亦有不少带有荷花元素的展品
不妨在荷花生日这天
来六悦博物馆
一同欣赏这些美丽的“荷花”
At the Six Arts Museum there are a variety of exhibits related to lotus flowers. We invite you to come to Six Arts and explore the lotus flowers just in time for the Birthday of the Lotus Flower!