Spiritual Symbolism of Cranes
In China, Taoist priests believe cranes transport souls to heaven. This spiritual significance is inspired by the bird’s migration patterns and longevity. Upon a Taoist priest’s death, the phrase yǔhuà (羽化) is used to express that they are turning into a feathered crane. Because of the legacy of such beliefs, cranes are still seen by some as a spiritual messenger of departed spirits to heaven. Ancient Chinese art depicts mythological, immortal figures like He Xiangu flying on cranes.
In Japan, a crane symbolizes longevity, immortality, and good fortune. Its ties to longevity come from the Japanese myth that a crane lives for one thousand years. This belief is central to the ancient Japanese practice of senbazuru, or folding 1,000 origami cranes, to gain a wish or good fortune. Red-crowned cranes in particular are associated with immortality. Japan’s indigenous Ainu people perform a dance to honor the red-crowned crane as a divine creature.
Early Celts believed cranes symbolized secret knowledge. In Celtic mythology, the figure Lugh would perform a Crane Curse dance with his warriors by standing on one leg, closing one eye, and outstretching one arm. This crane-magic would allow them to see and walk between worlds like the crane stepping between the earth, sea, and sky. It’s also believed that the crane’s legs inspired the sacred Ogham alphabet.
In Ancient Greece, the crane was considered a messenger or an omen. The birds were specifically considered messengers for the god Apollo because of their apparent intelligence and vigilance. In the legend of the cranes of Ibycus, cranes are considered an omen as they swarm to force a confession from Ibycus’s murderers. The Crane dance or Geranos was a ritual dance in Ancient Greece, tied to the myth of Ariadne and Theseus. Scholars believe the crane component of the dance is an imitation of cranes’ courtship dance and tied to the birds’ status as travelers to the afterlife.
The crane holds special significance in Buddhism. In a popular legend, Prince Siddhartha (the future Buddha) rescues a wounded sarus crane and nurses it to health. His cousin, who shot the crane, attempts to claim it, but the king’s court grants Siddhartha custody of the bird for saving its life instead of trying to kill it. Statues show Buddha caring for the wounded crane, symbolizing the virtue of caring for all life. The round crane mark is the official emblem of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. The bird is a sacred religious symbol to followers of this branch of Nichiren Buddhism.
In the Bible, cranes feature in a verse about obedience to God. Specifically, in Jeremiah 8:7, cranes are mentioned along with other birds as knowing their appointed times—in other words, obeying natural law by instinctively migrating. This is contrasted with the people who ignore God’s judgment or laws. The cry of the crane is mentioned in Isaiah 38:14. Some translations of the Bible omit the crane or replace it with the swallow.
Cultural Symbolism of Cranes
In Japanese culture, cranes symbolize loyalty and happiness. Because cranes mate for life, they are seen as emblematic of loyalty and commitment. Crane art is featured in vintage wedding kimonos and at traditional wedding ceremonies. Their jubilant mating dances and graceful movements represent the joy of life, earning them associations with happiness as well.
In China, cranes symbolize wisdom and nobility. A crane’s long life and white feathers are taken to represent old age. The crane was used as a symbol identifying first-rank officials in the Qing dynasty, cementing its ties to nobility. In Chinese artwork, a flying crane could represent one’s political ambitions to become nobility. There are other associations specific to the color of the crane: A white crane is a symbol of purity, grace, and harmony. A black crane is a symbol of mystery, feminine yin energy, transformation, resilience, and bad luck. A yellow crane is a symbol of prosperity, freedom, inspiration, and the city of Wuhan where the Yellow Crane Tower is located. In Chinese language, “crane” (鹤) is a homophone for “harmony” (合). Along with the snake, the crane’s movement and symbolic meaning inspire several movements in Tai Chi martial arts, such as “crane spreads its wings.”
Ancient Koreans considered the crane a symbol of longevity and purity. Cranes are featured in early Korean artwork referencing longevity. The elegant birds adorn gifts given on birthdays as a wish for long life. Their immortality is attributed to both their purity—associating with only clean and beautiful things or ideas—and their nobility above other bird species.
In South Africa, the blue crane symbolizes bravery. The blue crane is the national bird of South Africa. In the Ndebele culture, it is forbidden to hunt or eat the bird (known as mxololo) because of the bird’s natural bravery and hunting prowess. In Xhosa and Zulu culture, blue crane or indwe feathers indicate a warrior’s bravery. The feathers are either presented as a gift to heroes or worn in a warrior’s headdress.
In Native American mythology, cranes symbolize luck and leadership. The exact meaning depends on the tribe and folklore. In some instances, the crane was a good omen for fishermen. The Chippewa see the crane as symbolic of communication and leadership, ascribing these traits to members of the Crane Clan. Other tribes such as the Hopi, Zuni, Pueblo, and Menominee also had or have Crane Clans. The Creek and Chumash tribes have Crane Dances. Not all crane symbolism is positive. In Wabanaki folklore, the crane figure represents vanity.
Ancient Romans associated cranes with vigilance and guardianship. In Pliny the Elder’s The Natural History, he describes cranes as selecting a leader from among them to follow when they migrate. He also relates a story of cranes choosing sentinels who hold stones in their claws. If these guards fall asleep, the noise of the fallen stone will awaken and indict them to the other birds.
In Aesop’s Fables, the crane symbolizes utility and foolishness. In the fable of “The Peacock & the Crane,” the peacock’s vain boasting about its beautiful feathers is rebutted by the crane’s ability to fly freely. The moral suggests usefulness outweighs ornamental value. The fable of “The Wolf & the Crane” sees a crane help a wolf, only for the wolf to threaten the crane when it asks for its promised reward. The moral of the second fable indicates the crane was foolish to expect a reward from a wicked creature.
Origami Crane Symbolism
Paper cranes are associated with peace and healing in Japan. Senbazuru, or folding 1,000 paper cranes to grant a wish, dates back to at least the 18th century. However, it was the story of Sadako Sasaki that popularized the association of cranes with peace. Sadako, a Hiroshima bombing survivor, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1955. The 12-year-old decided to fold 1,000 paper cranes, wishing to live longer. She passed away later that year and was buried with a wreath of 1,000 paper cranes. There is a memorial in Hiroshima Peace Park for Sadako. Visitors leave paper cranes made to honor her memory, as well as all the innocent victims of the Hiroshima bombing. Accounts are conflicted on whether Sadako reached her goal of folding 1,000 cranes. Some sources say she reached 644 origami cranes, while others claim she surpassed her goal.
Seeing a Crane in a Dream Meaning
Dreaming about a crane could symbolize good luck and joy. Cranes are associated with good fortune in various Asian cultures. Their graceful flight reminds viewers of the beauty of the natural world and the joy of life. In a dream, a crane may represent desired or future prosperity or remind you of what brings happiness into your life.
Dreaming of two cranes symbolizes positive relationships. Cranes mate for life with a single partner, earning them a symbolic association with loyalty and commitment. To see two cranes together in a dream implies positive signs for your romantic or other relationships. It may be a premonition of future romance. If the cranes are involved in a mating dance, it could symbolize an upcoming engagement or pregnancy.
Comments
0 comment