'Rising from mud unstained' is a famous line describing the lotus.
Tips
culture
The lotus is deeply symbolic in Chinese culture, representing purity and integrity. The phrase 出淤泥而不染 (rising from the mud unstained) from Zhou Dunyi's essay is one of the most quoted lines in Chinese literature.
usage
莲 appears in many compounds: 莲花 (liánhuā, lotus flower), 莲子 (liánzǐ, lotus seed), 莲藕 (lián'ǒu, lotus root). All parts of the lotus plant are used in Chinese cooking and medicine.