What's so special about willow trees?
As an important symbol in traditional Chinese culture, willow trees not only appear frequently in poems and songs, but also have rich implications in folk customs, Feng Shui, medicine and other fields. In recent years, with renewed attention to traditional culture, the symbolic meaning and practical uses of willow trees have once again become a hot topic. This article will combine the hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to explore the importance of willow trees and their cultural connotations.
1. The cultural symbol of willow tree

The willow tree is often seen as a symbol of flexibility, vitality and farewell in Chinese culture. The ancients often used willow trees as a metaphor for perseverance, such as "the willow tree is dark and the flowers are bright, and another village is bright", which means hope and turning point. At the same time, willow trees are also related to farewell. In ancient times, there was the custom of "breaking willows to give farewell" to express blessings and longing for those who travel far away.
| Symbolic meaning | Related poems or allusions |
|---|---|
| Flexibility and vitality | "The willows are dark and the flowers are bright, another village" - Lu You's "Visiting Shanxi Village" |
| Parting and longing | "I have passed away in the past, and the willows are still there" - "The Book of Songs·Xiaoya" |
| Spring and hope | "The jasper is as tall as a tree, with thousands of green silk ribbons hanging down" - He Zhizhang's "Ode to the Willow" |
2. The importance of willow trees in folk customs
Willow trees are widely used in folk customs. For example, during the Qingming Festival, people will plant willow branches to ward off evil spirits; during the Dragon Boat Festival, willow branches are also used to repel mosquitoes. In addition, willow trees are also believed to have feng shui effects in attracting wealth and holding down homes.
| folk scene | Willow tree uses |
|---|---|
| Qingming Festival | Planting willow branches to ward off evil spirits |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Using willow branches to repel mosquitoes |
| Feng shui layout | Willow tree attracts wealth and houses |
3. The practical value of willow trees
In addition to cultural symbols and folk customs, willow trees also have many practical values. Willow branches are used in weaving crafts, and the bark and leaves are widely used in traditional medicine.
| Purpose | Specific applications |
|---|---|
| braid | Wicker baskets, furniture and more |
| Medicine | Salicylic acid extracted from willow bark, used to relieve pain and reduce fever |
| landscaping | Willow trees have strong adaptability and are often used in urban greening. |
4. Willow trees’ hot topics in modern society
In the past 10 days, hot topics related to willow trees have mainly focused on the following aspects:
| hot topics | focus of discussion |
|---|---|
| Willow trees and environmental protection | The role of willow trees in controlling water and soil erosion |
| Willow and health | Research on the Medicinal Value of Willow Extract |
| Willow trees and cultural heritage | How to carry forward traditional culture through willow trees |
5. Conclusion
As an important carrier of Chinese traditional culture, the willow tree's cultural symbol, folk customs and practical value are worthy of our in-depth discussion. In modern society, willow is not only a plant, but also a continuation of culture. By understanding the importance of willow trees, we can better inherit and carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture.
(The full text is about 850 words in total)
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