also: でいちゅうのはちす
a lotus in the mire; a rose among nettles; something pure amidst filth
Idiomatic expression describing a person or thing that remains pure and beautiful despite being in a corrupt or dirty environment. Often used in literary or moral contexts.
She remained pure like a lotus in the mire, even in a bad environment.
This work brings to mind the phrase 'a lotus in the mire'.
Standard kanji form for this idiomatic expression.
Derived from the classical Chinese idiom 出淤泥而不染 (chū yūní ér bù rǎn), which describes a lotus growing in muddy water yet remaining unstained. The Japanese form 泥中の蓮 is a direct adaptation, using the image of a lotus in the mud to symbolize purity in a corrupt world.