鴛

The male half of the pair 鴛鴦 that symbolizes conjugal harmony and devotion.

The character combines:

鳥 (“bird”) as the semantic indicator,

夗 (“to lie down, to rest”) as the phonetic component.

Originally it referred to the male mandarin duck, whose image, paired with 鴦, became a symbol of inseparable companionship.

In early Chinese texts, 鴛鴦 described birds that mated for life and always appeared together, later extended metaphorically to faithful spouses.

Appears primarily in the binome 鴛鴦 (원앙) — “mandarin ducks,” and by extension, “lovers.”

Common compounds and derived phrases:

鴛鴦 (원앙) — a pair of mandarin ducks; affectionate couple

鴛鴦夢 (원앙몽) — lovers’ dream; love dream

鴛鴦浴 (원앙욕) — lovers’ bath (lit. “mandarin-duck bath”)

鴛鴦枕 (원앙침) — double pillow for a married couple

Throughout East Asian art and literature, 鴛鴦 (mandarin ducks) embodied the ideal harmony between husband and wife (夫婦琴瑟, 부부금실).

During the Joseon dynasty, these motifs appeared widely:

- embroidered on wedding robes and quilts,

- painted on bridal screens (鴛鴦圖, wonang-do),

- carved on wedding chests (혼례반상기) and mirrors.

They were commonly paired with lotus flowers (purity) and reeds (constancy), expressing:

- harmony of yin and yang (陰陽調和),

- fidelity and eternal companionship,

- prosperity and lineage continuation.

A popular wedding blessing read:

「願爾如鴛鴦之比翼，白首同心。」

“May you be like the mandarin ducks that fly wing to wing, united in heart until white-haired old age.”

In symbolism, 鴛 represents the male principle — steadfast devotion and protective affection within the pair — while 鴦 embodies the gentle, receptive aspect.

Together they form 鴛鴦, an enduring emblem of marital fidelity and harmonious love in East Asian poetry, decorative arts, and wedding ritual culture.