Wine Bottle: Cultural Symbols in Literature and Folk Customs

The wine bottle, a seemingly ordinary object, not only plays multiple roles in real life, but also becomes a unique symbol that carries emotions and conveys culture in the lines of literary works, the interweaving of light and shadow in film and television shots, and the folk customs of various places. It sometimes witnesses joys and sorrows, sometimes connects regional characteristics and memories, and integrates into the spiritual world of mankind in a different way. ​
The image of wine bottles in literary works​
In the long river of literature, wine bottles are often given rich symbolic meanings and become an important carrier for writers to express emotions and portray characters. Li Bai's heroic spirit of "I must drink three hundred cups at a time" is inseparable from the moonlight shaking in the wine bottle. The wine bottle seems to be the source of his talent, full of the romance and unruliness of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. In "Water Margin", Wu Song drank eighteen bowls of strong liquor before fighting the tiger. The wine bottle in which it was placed witnessed the hero's courage and bravery. The roughness of the wine bottle and Wu Song's boldness complement each other and become an indispensable detail in the story.​
In Lu Xun's "Kong Yiji", Kong Yiji paid several coins for a bowl of wine in front of the curved counter of Xianheng Hotel. Although the wine bottle was not described in detail, it hinted at the embarrassment and self-esteem of the lower-class literati. The wine bottle here became a metaphor for social class, witnessing Kong Yiji's last respect in the ridicule of the world. In modern literary works, the image of the wine bottle is more diverse. In Yu Hua's "To Live", Fugui's rice wine in a rough pottery wine bottle carries his life's suffering and tenacity. Every time he raises his glass, he is silently fighting against life. ​
In poetry, the wine bottle is a common lyrical image. "Grape wine and luminous cup", although the luminous cup in Wang Han's writing is not a wine bottle in the traditional sense, it has a similar function. It and the wine together constitute the majestic and magnificent artistic conception of the frontier poems. In Haizi's "Wine Glasses", "When the wine glasses collide, they make a crisp sound / like fragments of the years". The wine glasses here (which can be regarded as small wine bottles) have become witnesses of time and record bits and pieces of the past. ​
Wine Bottle Stories in Film and Television Lenses​
In film and television dramas, wine bottles are often key props to promote the development of the plot and shape the image of characters. In "Casablanca", the various wine bottles in Rick's bar witnessed the love and hatred between Rick and Ilsa. The bottle of "Vichy Mineral Water" that was repeatedly mentioned actually hid the secret of resisting the Nazis and became the catalyst for the tense atmosphere in the film. The wine bottles glowed in the dim light, as if they were also telling the helplessness and perseverance in troubled times. ​
In "The Shawshank Redemption", Andy fought for beer for his cellmates in prison. In the sun, the cellmates raised their glasses and drank. Those wine bottles not only brought a moment of freedom and joy, but also symbolized Andy's persistent pursuit of hope. The sound of wine bottles colliding has become a rare pleasant melody in a depressing environment. In the domestic film "Farewell My Concubine", in the scenes where Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou drank together many times, the quaint wine bottle witnessed their complex life from companionship in youth to separation in middle age. The wine in the bottle seemed to be the glue of their friendship, and was washed away in the torrent of the times. ​
In horror movies, wine bottles are often used to create a weird atmosphere. In "The Shining", Jack drank whiskey alone in the hotel bar. As his mind gradually became abnormal, it seemed to be endowed with evil power. The shaking wine in the bottle reflected his distorted face, adding a bit of horror to the film. Wine bottles in comedy films often have humorous elements. In "A Chinese Odyssey", Ouyang Feng's funny appearance when drinking with a strange-shaped wine bottle made the audience laugh. The wine bottle here became a tool for making jokes. ​
The mark of wine bottles in folk customs​
In the folk customs of different regions, wine bottles have unique cultural connotations and uses. In the Miao people's door-blocking wine ceremony, the earthenware wine bottles filled with rice wine are simple and generous, and the mouth of the wine bottle is tied with a red ribbon, symbolizing auspiciousness and blessings. When the guests arrive, the Miao girls dressed in their best clothes will hold the wine bottle and pour a full glass of wine for the guests. The wine bottle here becomes a bridge connecting the host and the guests, conveying the enthusiasm and hospitality of the Miao people. ​
In the weddings of the Jiangnan water towns, the wine bottle is one of the important dowry items. Those beautifully decorated ceramic wine bottles, with patterns such as "dragon and phoenix auspicious" and "a hundred years of happiness" painted on the bottle, are filled with sweet wine that means "early birth of a son". The wine bottle is placed in a prominent position in the dowry, symbolizing the good expectations for the future life of the newlyweds. In some rural areas in the north, wine bottles are filled with good wine during the New Year and given to the elders. Although the packaging of the wine bottle is simple, it carries the filial piety and blessings of the younger generation to the elders. ​
In the sacrificial activities of some ethnic minorities, the wine bottle also plays an important role. During the Torch Festival of the Yi people, the priests would use special wine bottles to hold rice wine and sprinkle it on the gods of heaven and earth, praying for good weather and good harvests. The wine bottle here has become a medium for communication between people and gods, and has been given a sacred meaning. In some places in Shaanxi, when sweeping tombs on Qingming Festival, people will bring a bottle of wine and sprinkle it on the tombs of their relatives. The wine in the bottle seems to be a longing for the deceased, and every drop is full of deep affection. ​
From the delicate description of literary works, to the vivid presentation of film and television shots, to the unique interpretation of folk customs, the wine bottle has become an indispensable symbol in the human spiritual world with its rich cultural connotations. It has witnessed the changes in history, carried people's joys, sorrows, and sorrows, and radiated a different brilliance in different scenes, which is worth our in-depth exploration and appreciation. ​