Ruyi Symbolism

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Ruyi, 如意, a term meaning “as you wish”, is a scepter that has circulated throughout China. This curved decorative object is designed as an ‘S’ shaped scepter, which consists of three main parts—the top, middle, and bottom. The top of the Ruyi is often designed ornately, sometimes resembling a “fist, mushroom head”, or in rare cases a dragon emblem (Kieschnick, 142). The focus of this research paper is to understand the symbolic nature of the Ruyi in China. In order to better grasp the meaning attributed to the Ruyi, it is best to provide a background of the history, development, and function of the Ruyi in China. Thus, first, I will cover the different arguments about the objects origins. Second, I will analyze the circulation and function of the object—from the court, locals, and Buddhist monks, since such is significant to better understand the symbolic nature of the Ruyi. Third, I will provide an analysis of the materials that was used to make the object, in order to evaluate the importance of this object in Chinese society. Lastly, I will elaborate on the symbolism tied in with religion, specifically Buddhism in the Ruyi. Thus, with all this components I hope to provide a better understanding of this material object that started out as a normal, day to day object, to an object that eventually symbolized goodness, wellness, fortune, power, and many more.
So, how exactly did the Ruyi come into China? Scholars have provided contested suggestion about the origins of the Ruyi. Some have suggested that the object came into China along with Buddhism, while others suggests that the object has been long part of Chinese culture (Kieschnick, 142). John Kieschnick, author of The Impact of Buddhism on Chinese Material Culture, has gathe...

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...ject somehow gives a feeling of religious ideals.
Overall, the purpose of this paper was to analyze the symbolic nature of the Ruyi and how it developed from being a simple backscratching tool to a noble object. It is truly hard to prove the origins of the Ruyi, although scholars do agree that the Ruyi was originally a tool for scratching. What is truly interesting was how the circulation and function of the Ruyi changed when scholars, Buddhist monks, foreigners, and the Emperor used it. The fact that the Ruyi was also made from jade signified the true importance of the object in Chinese society. Though, the object was said to have been influenced by Buddhism, one can see that the Ruyi developed a secular symbolic nature of its own. Thus, I hope with all these different accounts, I have provided a well-established analysis of the symbolic nature of the Ruyi.

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