Japanese Symbol for
蝶chō
butterfly · transformation · beauty
Readings
Meaning
Butterfly. 蝶 (chō) symbolizes transformation, the soul, joy, and the fleeting beauty of life. In Japan, a white butterfly seen near a person may be interpreted as the spirit of an ancestor visiting.
Example words
蝶々夫人
Chōchō-san
Madama Butterfly (Puccini opera)
胡蝶の夢
kochō no yume
butterfly dream (Zhuangzi)
蝶番
chōtsugai
hinge (butterfly-joint)
蝶結び
chōmusubi
bow tie knot (butterfly knot)
揚羽蝶
ageha-chō
swallowtail butterfly (clan crest motif)
夢胡蝶
yume kochō
dreamlike butterfly, fleeting dream
蝶 appears in the philosophical puzzle 胡蝶の夢 (Kochō no Yume — Butterfly Dream) from Zhuangzi: "Am I a man dreaming I am a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming I am a man?" This question became deeply influential in Japanese thought. 揚羽蝶 (ageha-chō — swallowtail butterfly) is the family crest of the Taira clan, making it one of Japan's most storied heraldic symbols.
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