Begonia is one of China's national flowers and a representative of its beautiful flora. It holds an extremely important position in Chinese culture, being more than just a flower, but a cultural symbol. This article will introduce China's national flower—begonia—in detail from multiple aspects such as its origin and history, characteristics and varieties, cultural symbolism, artistic expression, and growing environment.
Origin and History: A Beautiful Legend from the Tang Dynasty
The origin and history of begonia can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty, closely associated with a beautiful legend. This legend tells the love story of a princess and a young scholar from the Tang Dynasty and how it evolved into begonia becoming China's national flower. According to legend, the princess and the young scholar fell in love during a chance encounter, but their love was forced apart because it was too intolerable for the secular world, and the princess ultimately left this world. The young scholar, deeply grieved, plucked a flower from the princess's beloved begonia tree and wrote the poem "I admire you endlessly" with his own blood. It is said that this legend later became an inspiration for many literary works.
Characteristics and Varieties: Hundreds of Varieties Worldwide
The characteristics and varieties of begonia are extremely rich and colorful. According to statistics, there are hundreds of varieties worldwide, with dozens being unique to China. Among them, "Red Begonia" is the most famous, known for its rich and vibrant colors and its intoxicating fragrance, making it a favorite among the people. In addition, there are other varieties such as "White Begonia," "Purple Begonia," and "Yellow Begonia," each with its own unique beauty.
Cultural Symbolism: Beauty, Strength, and Purity
In Chinese culture, begonia represents beauty, strength, and purity, and is one of the most beautiful images in people's minds. In traditional culture, begonia is often used to symbolize love and friendship, signifying beautiful things and expressing people's yearning and pursuit of them.
Artistic Expression: Literature, Painting, and Music
Begonia also has extremely rich forms of artistic expression. In literature, many famous writers have used begonia as a creative theme, such as "A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near" from Wang Zhihuan's "Ascending the Stork Tower" in the Tang Dynasty, and "Since ancient times, the lady's face is like a red begonia, relying on the protagonist" from Lu Xun's "Wild Grass," which have both become classics. In painting, begonia has been depicted by countless painters, with Wu Changshuo's "Red Branch Begonia Picture" from the Ming Dynasty being the most famous. In music, there is a song "The Begonia Flower" in the "Yellow River Cantata," which has become a classic piece of Chinese music.
Growing Environment: Suitable for Moist, Sunny Regions
The growing environment of begonia is quite special; it is suitable for moist, sunny areas, especially in plains with an altitude below 1000 meters. Begonia needs ample water and sunlight to grow vigorously, so it is important to pay attention to selecting the right growing environment when planting it.
Quality Characteristics: Fragrance and Beauty
The quality characteristics of begonia are very distinct. Besides its vibrant colors, it also has a rich fragrance, making it very popular. Moreover, the flowers of begonia are also very beautiful, belonging to a type of flower with strong layering, making it very interesting to look at.
Cultivation Techniques: Soil and Maintenance
Cultivation techniques for begonia also require attention. It needs to be planted in soil suitable for its growth, such as acidic soil, while maintaining sufficient water and sunlight. In terms of propagation, begonia can be propagated through methods like cuttings and division.
Dissemination and Promotion: Cultural Heritage and Tourism Industry
The dissemination and promotion of begonia are also very important, playing a crucial role in cultural heritage and the tourism industry. In terms of cultural heritage, begonia is not just a flower but a cultural symbol, holding significant importance in promoting the inheritance and development of Chinese culture. In the tourism industry, the growing environment of begonia is very suitable for sightseeing, making it an important resource for the sector.
Begonia's Flower Language: Love and Respect
The flower language of begonia is very interesting, representing love and respect. In Chinese culture, begonia is used to symbolize love and friendship. People give begonia to their loved ones or friends to express their feelings and respect.
Begonia Tea: Health and Wellness
Begonia can not only be used as an ornamental flower but also can be made into tea for drinking. Begonia tea has certain health benefits, helping to clear heat and detoxify, moisten the lungs and relieve cough, and lower blood lipids, making it an excellent health-promoting beverage.
Begonia Cultural Festival: Tasting Traditional Culture
To further promote begonia culture, cultural festivals with begonia as the theme are held in various parts of China. These events not only showcase the beauty and cultural value of begonia but also provide people with an opportunity to experience traditional culture.
Begonia Brand: Enhancing Cultural Value
In the Chinese flower market, begonia is also a very valuable brand. Some companies also use begonia for brand promotion to enhance its cultural and economic value.
Protection and Development: Ecological Construction and Cultural Heritage
The protection and development of begonia are very important. It not only requires ecological construction and cultural heritage but also needs to strengthen the protection and management of begonia to ensure its long-term stable development.
Academic Research: Cultural and Scientific Value
Begonia is also a hot topic in academic research, with its cultural and scientific value attracting attention. Academic research can not only deepen people's understanding and knowledge of begonia but also help promote the development of China's flower industry.
Begonia — A Representative of Chinese Culture
In summary, as one of China's national flowers, begonia holds an extremely important position in Chinese culture. It is not just a flower, but a cultural symbol. Through the introduction of begonia's origin and history, characteristics and varieties, cultural symbolism, artistic expression, growing environment, and other aspects, we can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of this beautiful flower, and better promote the inheritance and development of Chinese culture.