Chinese culture is full of symbols and items with various meanings. One such item is the Ruyi scepter. In Buddhism, the scepter is ceremonial while it is a talisman in Chinese folklore. The head is made to look like a fist or mushroom while the handle takes an s-shape.
What does the name Ruyi mean?
In the Chinese Language, the name Ruyi is a compound word. The first part of the word is Ru and then Yi. ‘Ru’ means such as, like, or as. ‘Yi’ means to wish, desire, intention, or imagination. In the Typical Chinese language, the term ruyi describes a state of being or as a stative verb in other words. When combined, the name ruyi means as desired, as one wishes, or as one likes. The term is also used as an adjective that means happy, satisfied, or comfortable.
What is Ruyi scepter?
The ruyi is an artistic object attributed to Buddhist deities and Daoist immortals. The gods are seen holding the ruyi as a symbol of prosperity. Ruyi scepters are motifs in artistic styles such as in rugs, folk artifacts, and logos. The ruyi is revered for its symbolic meaning among the Chinese people. The Han and Jin dynasty nobles held the ruyi when conversing as a symbol of authority. In the political scene, the ruyi was used as the mark of a ruler. In Buddhism, the ruyi gave the person holding it the right to speak. In a nutshell, the ruyi is a talking stick, a ceremonial stick, and a motif.
Ruyi scepter history
The term ruyi was first used in the Han dynasty of 206 to 24 AD and its literal meaning is as you desire. As contradicting as this sector’s origin is, scholars have come up with theories to try and decipher the ruyi mystery. One theory is that the scepter originated from Indian monks who used it for ceremonial purposes. The ruyi later found its way to China. The second theory is the backscratcher. It is believed to have been used by monks as a backscratcher. From 1366 to 1644 AD (Ming dynasty), the ruyi became a gift symbolizing good luck and blessings.
Ruyi Feng Shui
Feng Shui is a traditional Chinese practice that uses energy to bring harmony to the environment and humans. This practice used the ruyi more as a talisman and as a prosperity symbol.
How to use ruyi
The Feng Shui practice believes that the ruyi should be kept in business premises to attract career growth. The ruyi is to be placed in the North corner of an office space to attract prosperity and wade off negative energy.
Ruyi symbol meaning
The scepter means good fortunes in Chinese folklore and is a decorative ceremonial object in Buddhism. It can also be translated to mean everything goes well.
Conclusion
The ruyi continues to grace Chinese art, and it is a significant traditional symbol in this culture. It is givens as a gift to wish the recipient good luck and blessings. It is common to hear the phrase ruyi suanpan which means to possess extreme positivity.
