Baike says the plants are because the e (zedoary) are edible and useful. They also grow as a thicket, so they are metaphorically filial. The other two plants are grown in a scattered way, and also not edible, so they are not useful or filial.
The pitcher draws water from the jar, so if the pitcher is empty then it's the jar's fault, like the son who cannot do his filial duty.
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Re: 202. 蓼莪 - Liao E
Date: 2021-04-26 02:21 am (UTC)The pitcher draws water from the jar, so if the pitcher is empty then it's the jar's fault, like the son who cannot do his filial duty.