In Chinese culture, these fluffy tufts of meteorological cotton candy have some interesting cultural significance. Having spent some time in China and surrounding nations where the Chinese have historically had a major influence, I’ve noticed a recurring motif in the swirling, stylised representation of clouds appearing everywhere from jewellery to the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch. So I set out to uncover the history and meaning of this natural phenomenon as a popular Chinese symbol. 

Cloud symbolism in China

China is traditionally an agricultural nation and farmers associated downpours with plentiful harvests that would feed them and provide for their families. As rain bearers, clouds got the glory for bringing the wet stuff. Hence, clouds became linked to abundance. Yun, the word for cloud, sounds like the Chinese word for luck or fortune – therefore the two became intrinsically connected. Their lofty seat between earth and heaven gave clouds celestial status, with stories and artwork often depicting them as the vehicle of travelling deities – think Monkey Magic! Dragons, another powerful, auspicious Chinese symbol are often pictured hiding among storm clouds or creating whirling puffs with their breath.

2008 Beijing Olympic torch

In modern China, the cloud is thought of largely as a traditional decorative motif without meaning. Yet as a tourist, its ubiquity drew my attention. In 2008 the Beijing Olympic torch was decorated with a continuous cloud design and named “Cloud of Promise.” The designers at Lenovo who submitted the winning torch aesthetic used the lucky cloud motif to incorporate an element of ancient Chinese culture in their slick, contemporary design. This is a testament to the cloud as a symbol that may have less meaning in the world of today, but still represents historical values in a crowd-pleasing aesthetic.

So next time you are cursing a heaven-sent soaking, think of life from the perspective of an old Chinese farmer. Those soggy grey billows bring life to crops, water to reservoirs and food to your plate, and that is fortunate after all.