Cultural metaphors of plant proverbs in Hakka

Abstract This study analyzes cultural metaphors exhibited by a repository of plant-oriented proverbs in Hakka, explicitly demonstrating the intricate interplay between the universal framework of The Great Chain of Being theory and the parametric constraints of contextual factors. The salient selection of various types of plants, along with their biological traits together with factors including linguistic contexts, physical and social settings, and cultural aspects gives rise to their linguistic manifestations and conceptualization patterns. The reified virtues overlap with philosophical representations of Confucian ethics and are further consolidated into dealing with work and dealing with people. While most are universal values, some are more culturally specific, indicating a dynamic spectrum of the core virtues that may exhibit different significances in different cultures. The investigation makes empirical and theoretical contributions to metaphor and proverb studies by enhancing the explanatory power of the Great Chain of Being theory and by illustrating how various facets of contextual factors influence the conceptualization and interpretation of the cultural metaphors of plant proverbs.