Lotus

The lotus is an important symbol in Buddhism.  As it rises undefiled from muddy water, it  represents purity.  It's use as a decorative art form gained popularity after the introduction of Buddhism into China during the Han dynasty.  Celadon vessels with lotus curvings became popular during the Six Dynasty period and remained so till the Yuan Dynasty.

The lotus is also much praised by the literati.  A famous lover of lotus is the Song scholar Zhou Dunyi.  

The lotus is called lianhua (莲花） or hehua （荷花） in chinese.  Various rebus with auspicious meanings are constructed from lian (连）ie join or combine and  he (和）　for peace. For example, a design with lotus and ducks conveys the meaning of harmony and union in marriage.  A lotus depicted with a box conveys the message of harmonious union.  It's derived from homophone he (和）　meaning harmonious as represented by the lotus and he (合） meaning union as represented by the box. 

The homophone lian (连) can also mean in succession.  Hence,  a motif showing an infant holding a lotus conveys the message of continued birth of successful children.  In ancient time being successful means success in imperial examination which leads to a career in the civil service.  This layer of the meaning is conveyed by the lotus which also means the imperial examination (莲科）.

A motif of a lotus and heron means success in imperial examination all the way, ie yilu lianker. 

During the Qing Yongzheng period, a type of vase with blue and white drawing of lotus scrolls were made and awarded to court officials. It is termed shangping (赏瓶）　meaning award vase.  The design of the vase was intended to remind the court officials  of the  importance of being clean and uncorrupted in character.   The blue colour , qing (青）　is the homophone for qing (清）and lotus, lian for （廉）, which in combination means clean and uncorrupted.