The Flowers' Language and Meanings of Camellia
The camellia, which blooms in the late spring, marks the end of spring with its cold and exquisite posture. Praised by the Song Dynasty poet Wang Qi as "When camellia blooms, the flowers are done," this Rosaceae plant embodies the unique melancholic imagery in Eastern aesthetics. The petals not only condense the beauty of nature but also carry the cultural passwords that transcend thousands of years.
Interpretation of Camellia Flowers' Language
Philosophical Implications of the Beauty at the End
The phrase "beauty at the end" in the camellia's language contains the philosophical thought of "peak and decline" from the Taoism. Its blooming period is during the time from Guyu to Lixia in the lunar calendar, which is as described in the "Huainanzi": "Fifteen days after the spring equinox, the handle of the Dipper points to Yi, then the Qingming wind arrives." This fleeting blooming is often endowed with the life perception of "the ultimate beauty must depart" in the writings of literati.
Multi-dimensional Emotional Symbols
From Xue Bao in "Dream of the Red Chamber" drawing the camellia flower sign during the "Night Banquet of the Red Chamber," to the emotional expression in modern floral art, camellia not only symbolizes the tragic and decisive end of love but also implies the melancholic loss when life stages change. Its multi-layered petals, like snow, resemble the lingering emotional thoughts that are hard to let go.
Millennium Flower Frame Legend
Elegant Gatherings of Song Dynasty Literati
Sim'a Guang's "Suoshui Jiwen" detailed Fan Zhen's camellia flower frame in his mansion, this wooden structure that can accommodate dozens of people, witnessed the prototype of the "Flying Flower Order" in ancient China. When the petals fell into the green porcelain wine cups, the literati improvised poems in the style of "Chu Ci," creating the literary tradition of "fallen petals rewarding singing."
Cultural Tradition of Flower Rain Banquet
This springtime elegant gathering that lasted for more than twenty years gave birth to the special wine ritual of "drinking three times until the petals in the cup are gone." Participants had to drink according to the number of petals, with single petals for light sipping and multiple petals for heavy drinking. This custom was later spread by the Japanese Enryaku Mission and evolved into the "Hanami Sake" ceremony in Japanese tea ceremony.
Cultural Heritage and Artistic Imagery
Time and Space Symbols in Paintings
In Chen Hongshou's "Tea Drinking Picture" of the Ming Dynasty, camellia, guqin, and tea sets form the classic imagery of a literati's study. Its pendulous flower branches form a "pendulum visual focus" in the composition, echoing the theme expression of "peak and decline," and becoming an important time symbol in flower and bird paintings.
Emotional Carrier in Poems
From Su Shi's "Camellia does not compete for spring, silently blooms latest" to Nalan Xingde's "拒绝 camellia, a slice of moonlight as water," poets of the past generations have expressed their feelings about the passage of time through it. This literary imagery even influenced Japanese haiku, forming an intercultural resonance with the "mono no aware" aesthetics of cherry blossoms.
Taboos and Feng Shui Considerations in Maintenance
Balance of Yin and Yang Energy in Plants
In traditional feng shui, camellia is an extremely yin object and should not be planted in the bedroom or the south direction. It is recommended to pair it with positive plants like June snow and golden edge fragrant osmanthus, forming a "three talents gathering qi" pattern in the northwest corner of the courtyard, which is not only for viewing but also for dispelling solitary sha qi.
Application Principles in Modern Floral Art
For wedding decorations, fresh camellias should be avoided and preserved flowers can be used with ivy, symbolizing "eternal friendship." When making a bouquet for a patient, note that the original species with white flowers and yellow cores represents parting, while the modern cultivated pink variant can express blessings.
When we gaze at the layer upon layer of petals of the camellia, we see not only the botanically defined blooming and withering but also the poetic interpretation of the cycle of life in Chinese culture. This flower, which carries philosophical speculations and emotional codes, still reminds us to this day: the ultimate beauty often emerges at the moment of curtain call.