Abstract: Gourds are a globally distributed plant that is closely associated with human life. Gourd definition involves three dimensions: botanical, cultural and sociological.

From the botanical point of view, cucurbits have unique morphological characteristics, growth habits, and classification status; at the cultural level, they carry a wealth of symbolism, legend, and artistic expressions; in their social life, cucurbits show important values in edible, medicinal, and craft production. The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively analyze the multidimensional definition of the gourd and reveal its complex and diversified roles and meanings in the long history of mankind.

We have a wide selection of gourds

I. Introduction

The gourd, an ancient and magical plant, has been intertwined with human life since time immemorial. Gourds can be seen everywhere, whether in the vast fields or human cultural texts, artistic creations, and daily utensils. It has become an indispensable part of the development process of human civilization with its unique form, diverse uses, and profound cultural connotation. A comprehensive and in-depth study of the definition of the gourd will not only help us to understand the plant itself better but also reveal the history of human interaction with nature and the rich meanings derived from it in different cultural contexts.

II. Gourd definition in botanical terms

2.1 Morphological characteristics

Gourd belongs to the genus Cucurbitaceae, an annual climbing herb. The surface of its plant is covered with mucilaginous villous hairs, and the petiole is slender and provides support for the growth of the leaf blade. The leaves are ovate-cordate or reniform-ovate, a shape that helps to increase the light-exposed area of the leaves and promote photosynthesis. The tendrils are slender and help the plant to climb and find more favorable space for growth.

Gourds are monoecious, with solitary flowers that are mostly white or yellow. The calyx is cylindrical and funnel-shaped with lance-shaped lobes, and the corolla lobes are crisped, a unique flower structure adapted to insect pollination. The fruit is green at first, gradually turning white to yellowish-white as it matures, and its bark is lignified and hard at maturity. The fruit shape of different varieties or variants of cucurbits varies greatly, with sub-bell-shaped, compressed globular, rod-shaped, structural, etc. This rich diversity of fruit shapes is the result of long-term artificial selection and natural variation. The seeds are white, obovate, or triangular, with a hard seed coat that protects the internal embryo and endosperm, creating conditions for seed dispersal and germination. Flowering occurs in summer and fruiting in fall, and this growth cycle is closely related to local climatic conditions and the ecological environment.

2.2 Growth habits

Gourds, like temperature and humidity, are suitable for growing in a warm and humid environment, and are more sensitive to temperature and moisture conditions. In the process of growth, it needs sufficient sunlight to photosynthesize, but in the high temperature of summer, too strong direct light may cause damage to the plant; appropriate shade is conducive to the growth of the plant. It is adaptable to soil but grows more robustly in fertile, well-drained soil. Because it is a climbing herb, gourd needs to use other objects to climb and grow; in the natural environment often climbs on trees, shrubs, or other supports, and in artificial cultivation is usually built to meet its growth needs.

2.3 Classification status

In plant taxonomy, Gourds belong to the genus Cucurbitaceae. Cucurbitaceae is a large family of plants containing numerous plants of economic and ecological significance, such as pumpkins, watermelons, and cucumbers. There are about 6-7 species of cucurbits worldwide, and the cucurbit (Lagenaria siceraria) is the most common and closely related species in this genus. After a long period of cultivation and selection, many varieties and species of cucurbits have been produced, such as subgirdle cucurbits, lady ‘s-slipper cucurbits, and long-stalked gourds, etc. These varieties have their characteristics in terms of fruit shape, size, and color, which have met the needs of human beings in different fields.

III. Gourd definition in culturology

3.1 Symbolism

In cultures around the world, the gourd carries a wealth of symbolism. In traditional Chinese culture, the gourd has multiple symbolic connotations. Because of its many seeds, the gourd is often symbolized as a symbol of multiplication and prosperity, reflecting the Chinese people’s wish for the continuation of the family and the prosperity of the people. At the same time, “Gourd” and “Fortune and Luck” harmonize together, representing good fortune and luck, and are a symbol of good fortune and luck. In Taoist culture, the gourd is the magic weapon of the immortals and is believed to have the efficacy of warding off evil spirits and demons, driving away calamities, and bringing good fortune, reflecting the mysterious power of the gourd in religious beliefs.

In other cultures, the gourd also has a unique symbolic meaning. In African cultures, the gourd is seen as a symbol of life and fertility and is often associated with female fertility. In Native American cultures, gourds were used to make a variety of ceremonial objects, symbolizing communication and connection with the gods and having a sacred status.

3.2 Legendary tales

Gourds play an important role in many legends. In ancient Chinese mythology, when Fu Xi and Nuwa, brother and sister, rode on a gourd during a great flood, they were able to avoid the water, and after the flood receded, the brother and sister married and reproduced human beings, making the gourd an important tool for human survival and reproduction, and thus endowed with the significance of sacred origins. In addition, there are many other legends about the gourd, such as the story of the “Hanging Pot for the World”, which tells the legend of the immortal who used the gourd to contain medicine to cure the sick and save the world, reflecting the symbolic significance of the gourd in the field of medicine and charity.

Gourds also appear frequently in the legends of other countries and peoples. In Indian mythology, for example, the gourd is regarded as a symbol of the universe, representing the origin of the world and the inclusiveness of all things. These legends and stories have been passed on through word of mouth, constantly enriching and deepening the connotation of the gourd in culture.

3.3 Artistic expression

Gourds have a wide range of applications and unique forms of expression in the field of art. Among the traditional Chinese crafts, the techniques of gourd carving, gourd painting, and gourd branding have a long history. Gourd carvers, through exquisite knife skills, carve various exquisite patterns and words on the surface of gourds, covering subjects such as figures, landscapes, flowers, and birds, turning gourds into works of art with collectible value. Gourd painting, on the other hand, uses rich colors to draw colorful pictures on the surface of the gourd, showing a unique artistic charm. Gourd branding painting irons out various patterns on the surface of the gourd using a high-temperature branding iron, using different degrees of carbonization to form shades of color with a unique texture and artistic effect.

Gourds also often appear as important imagery in literature. From ancient poems to modern novels, gourds are used to create atmosphere, express emotions, and convey ideas. For example, in the Classic of Poetry, there are records related to gourds, such as “Gourd leaves in streamers, picking them up,” and “Eating gourds in July, breaking pots in August,” depicting people’s use of gourds for food and life at that time. In the art of painting, many painters have created a large number of works based on gourds, showing the beauty of the gourd’s form and cultural connotations through their paintbrushes.

IV. Gourd definition in Sociological

4.1 Food value

Gourds have a long history in human food culture. In ancient times, young gourd fruits were used as food. The relevant records in the Book of Songs indicate that gourds had already become food on people’s tables from the Western Zhou to the Spring and Autumn Periods. The processing method of making dried gourd skins and storing them for use in the winter months was recorded in the Eastern Han Dynasty’s “Interpretation of Names”, indicating that people at that time had already explored and innovated the way of consuming gourds.

In modern times, gourds are still a specialty ingredient in some regions. The tender fruits of cucurbits are light in flavor and tender in quality and can be used in a variety of cooking methods, such as stir-frying, boiling in soup, and stuffing. Gourd is rich in many kinds of vitamins and minerals, has certain nutritional value, and is a folk summer commonly eaten delicacies.

4.2 Medicinal value

Gourds have important medicinal value in the field of Chinese medicine. It is recorded in Shennong Ben Cao that gourds can be diuretic and decongestant, and since then, there have been many works on cucurbits in traditional Chinese medicine, such as “Typhoid Essentials” and “Compendium of Materia Medica”. Cucurbits are sweet in flavor, smooth and non-toxic, and their vines, whiskers, leaves, flowers, seeds, and shells can be used as medicines to treat a variety of diseases. Modern research shows that the gourd contains a variety of chemical components, such as cucurbitacins and flavonoids, which have the effect of lowering sugar, preventing osteoporosis, promoting bone development, being diuretic, and enhancing the immune function of the body. For example, the two trypsin inhibitors isolated from cucurbits can play an inhibitory role on trypsin, thus achieving the effect of lowering sugar; cucurbits’ higher calcium content helps prevent osteoporosis and promote bone development.

4.3 Process production

Due to its unique shape and hard texture, the gourd has become an ideal material for making a variety of household items and handicrafts. In ancient times, gourds were widely used to make containers, such as wine pots and medicine pots, by cutting off small sections from the top, and dippers by splitting them horizontally, which were used for scooping up water, rice, and other daily life activities. Allusions such as “a cup of food and a dipper of water” and “hanging pots to help the world” reflect the important use of gourds in ancient life.

In modern times, gourd craftwork has been further developed and innovated. In addition to the traditional production of gourd containers, many novel gourd crafts have emerged, such as gourd musical instruments, gourd ornaments, and gourd jewelry. Gourd musical instruments, such as the gourd silk, have beautiful tones and strong ethnic characteristics and are popular in musical performances. Gourd ornaments and jewelry, on the other hand, combine the natural form of the gourd with artistic creativity through clever design and processing, becoming crafts with decorative and collectible values.

V. Conclusion

In summary, the gourd definition is a multidimensional and comprehensive concept. From a botanical point of view, it has a clear taxonomic status, unique morphological features and growth habits; in the field of culture, the gourd carries a wealth of symbolic meanings, legends, stories and diverse forms of artistic expression, becoming an important cultural symbol in different cultures; at the sociological level, the gourd has demonstrated important values in terms of edible, medicinal and handicraft production, and is closely connected with the daily life of mankind and the development of society.

An in-depth study of the multidimensional definition of gourds will not only help us to understand this plant and its relationship with human beings comprehensively but also provide rich research materials for the development of related disciplines and promote the exchange and understanding between different cultures.

In the future, with the advancement of science and technology and the continuous development of culture, the definition of gourds may be further expanded and enriched, and we should continue to pay attention to and explore in depth the potential and significance of gourds in various fields.

We have a wide selection of gourds