Details
Description
Lotus - purity rising from mud, enlightenment, rebirth.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of grass and connect. Aquatic plant with connected stems.
Symbolism
Purity, enlightenment, rebirth. Beauty blooming from mud symbolizes Buddhist teachings.
Spiritual Meaning
Blooming purely from mud symbolizes Buddhist enlightenment. Central image in faith wishing rebirth in Pure Land.
Seasonal
Summer flower blooming July to August. Seen at temples during Obon season. Symbol of purity connected to Buddhism.
Component Breakdown
Grass + link
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一蓮托生
いちれんたくしょう
sharing one's lot with another; being in the same boat
泥中の蓮
でいちゅうのはす
A lotus in the mud; Maintaining purity in a corrupt environment
Proverbs & Idioms
蓮は泥より出でて泥に染まらず
はすはどろよりいでてどろにそまらず
The lotus emerges from mud but remains unstained
Remaining pure regardless of one's surroundings
Anime & Manga
NANA
NANA
One protagonist Nana Osaki's love interest is named Ren
蓮如上人物語
The Story of Rennyo
Depicts the life of Rennyo, reformer of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism
劇場版 転生したらスライムだった件 紅蓮の絆編
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Scarlet Bond
A well-known work with 蓮 in its Japanese title.
天元突破グレンラガン 紅蓮篇
Gurren Lagann The Movie: Childhood's End
A well-known work with 蓮 in its Japanese title.
Games
蓮ノ空女学院スクールアイドルクラブ
Hasunosora Girls' Academy School Idol Club(2023)
Latest Love Live! series featuring academy named after lotus
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
蓮如
(れんにょ)Buddhist priest whose name contains 'lotus'
Reviver of Honganji sect. Devoted to spreading Buddhism to common people
日蓮
Name contains 蓮
Nichiren was a Japanese Buddhist monk and philosopher of the Kamakura period.
Wikipedia大田垣蓮月
Name contains 蓮
Ōtagaki Rengetsu was a Buddhist nun who is widely regarded to have been one of the greatest Japanese poets of the 19th century.
Wikipedia寂蓮
Name contains 蓮
Jakuren before becoming a monk) was a Japanese Buddhist priest and poet.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“lotus”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 蓮 mean in Japanese?
蓮 means lotus. Lotus - purity rising from mud, enlightenment, rebirth.
How do you read 蓮?
On'yomi: レン (REN). Kun'yomi: はす、はちす (hasu, hachisu).
How many strokes does 蓮 have?
蓮 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 艸 (grass).
Is 蓮 a good kanji for a tattoo?
蓮 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means lotus. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:lotus