Flowers

Know About the Top 10 Flowers in Chinese Culture

Top 10 flowers in Chinese Culture

China has the world’s largest population and its culture is ancient. The area over which this Chinese culture scatters is a vast one and includes most of East Asia. This culture is also extremely diverse with variation between cities, towns, and provinces. Flowers in China have always had an honored position in their culture. They play a major role in the regular day to day life. But it is art and poetry, where flowers have been present the most in Chinese culture. The Chinese people believe that flowers convey positive messages and thus they are recurrent in Chinese literature, food, beverages, and decorations.

Here are the top 10 Chinese flowers that play a significant role in their culture:

Chrysanthemums:

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums are associated with the famous Chinese poet Tao Yuanming. In one of his works, he referred Chrysanthemums as a symbol of humility. He wrote: “While picking up chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, my gaze was leisurely upon the southern mountains”. This is one of the most famous Chinese poems that reflects a peaceful and nourishing life which is every common man’s dream. In Chinese culture, chrysanthemum also symbolises longevity. As per the ancient Chinese Medicinal Theory, chrysanthemum tea is great medicine for curing internal heat and fever. People in China thus never forget to drink this special tea after having too spicy and cheesy or baked food items. In China, people use dry Chrysanthemum petals to make their pillows and they are good for eyesight.

Chinese Rose:

Chinese Rose

History says that the cultivation of roses started in China at least 5000 years ago and then spread elsewhere in the world. Chinese Rose is a member of the genus Rosa which is native to Southwest China in Guizhou, Hubei, and Sichuan Provinces. The China Rose Flower buds and flowers are brewed into tea and soup and also used as a kitchen herb. People eat the thin fleshy part surrounding the seeds in its raw form or after cooking. The rose seeds are a good source of vitamin E and they are grounded to use in foods. Apart from food, in China, these flowers are in profuse use in the perfume and cosmetics industry.

Peony:

Peony

It was the great Chinese poet Li Bai who compared his mistress Yang Yuhuan’s beauty to peonies. He wrote: “Floating clouds remind me of her clothes, and peonies her face”. In most of the New Year images, the fairy children always hold peonies. The peonies bear people’s wishes for an auspicious and rich new year. Peonies bloom in the spring season and symbolise fame, prosperity, and wealth.

Lotus:

Lotus

Lotus, in ancient Chinese culture, was a symbol of a woman’s noble and pure personality. The lotus flower (along with its leaves, seeds, and roots) has been in wide use in Chinese medicine and cuisine for more than 1000 years. A lotus is a precious flower in Buddhism which is one of the flourishing religion in China. A lotus grows in muddy water and thus it symbolises the purity of an enlightened mind that can arise even amidst the suffering of samsara (world). The lotus blooms on lunar 8th April in Beijing which is the birthday of Lord Buddha and again on lunar 8th January which is Lotus Day.

Plum Blossom:

Plum Blossom

Mao Zedong – the most influential revolutionary of China who named the country “The People’s Republic of China” once wrote a poem named “Ode to the Plum Blossom”. He described these flowers as: “Fair and beautiful. Not craving for spring for her own, only to tell the coming of the season. When all flowers bloom in full, she smiles among them.” The plum blossoms were metaphors to appreciate the great martyrs. In Chinese culture, plum blossom symbolises noble and modest qualities and along with bamboo, chrysanthemum, and orchid, they are known as the “Four Gentlemen”.

Camellia:

Camellia

It was 220-280 A.D. when Camellia flowers were planted in China. “Ode to Camellia” is an old poem written by Madame Huarui. And that poem describes camellia as: “Blooming on the hills, like burning sunset glow and floating pink clouds…the scenery is more beautiful than hundreds of flowers blooming in heaven.” This beautiful flower can cure fire burns and empyrosis.  Do you know that camellia is considered as the national flower of southern China? In Chinese culture, this flower symbolises young sons and daughters.

Azalea:

Azalea

Azalea appears in ancient Chinese poems and stories. There is one famous story in Chinese mythology. It speaks of a despondent bird named Du Jan who spat blood and painted all the flowers on the hill red. The flowers were known to be Azalea. This flowering plant is of huge use in Chinese medicine. It cures deafness and all kidney ailments.

Hibiscus:

Hibiscus

So, the Europeans were scouting all over the world to find resources and while they halted in China they found Hibiscus. It was the only ornamental plant that they took back with them. Meng Chang, the last king of the Later Shu State (during the time of the 5 Dynasties) had a special liking towards this flower. He ordered his people to grow hibiscus flowers around Chengdu (which later came to be known as “city of hibiscus”). The hibiscus is one of the most famous Chinese flowers that symbolises glory, fame, and splendor.

Magnolia:

Magnolia

Magnolias were precious and expensive in ancient times and only the Chinese emperors could own them. In those days, only one member from the Imperial family was allowed to grow or cultivate or own magnolias and thus the emperor got the chance to own them. Now, when he wanted to appreciate someone for a great service, he would give away a magnolia that showed his gracious appreciation. Magnolia has medicinal properties and aids in indigestion, depression, constipation, weight loss, headache, asthma, anxiety, inflammation, stress, etc. Hou Po is one of the rare variety of magnolia that grows in Sichuan province of China and is in very high demand for its healing properties.

In Feng Shui, along with the peony and crab apple, magnolia is often offered as a gift wishing for honor and wealth. If magnolia is with bees in paintings – that represents personal growth. Generally, this flower represents feminine beauty.

Narcissus:

Narcissus

Zhu Xi, a follower of the Confucian school of thought described narcissus as “a fairy with yellow hats and green sleeves”. This charming green, white, and yellow-coloured flowers grow in water and carries heavenly beauty. History says that this flower was an import from Italy during the reign of the Tang Dynasty in China. The Chinese people later cultivated better breeds of narcissus. During the Chinese New Year, people use this flower in their home décor.

 

 

About the author

Shruti Sood

Shruti is crazy about F.R.I.E.N.D.S & that is the first thing she tells everyone she meets! In a parallel universe, she is a passionate writer! She loves to research about various things and make her write-ups informative. She is a marketing professional by day and wears many other hats during the rest of the day! She loves to travel, paint, write poems, play music, and watch memes!

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