What qualities does the plum blossom represent?
A comprehensive explanation of the qualities represented by plum blossoms and the implications and symbolism of plum blossoms, tips on green plant care. Corrections are welcome if there are any mistakes!
In the cold winter, with the north wind howling, when it's already frozen with a hundred feet of ice on the cliff, I happened to pass by a garden and saw among the remaining snow the plum blossoms beginning to bloom, silently announcing the arrival of a vibrant season. There is also a lot of "cheering" on WeChat moments, with everyone sharing selfies comparing themselves to the plum blossoms. The plum blossoms, blooming silently in the cold, are the first among the flowers to bloom, alone in the world to welcome spring, a warrior in the cold, a spirit in the snow.
Red plum blossoms bring the breath of spring.
White plum blossoms are a type of green calyx plum, light in texture, fragrant in scent, and mild in taste.
The蜡梅 blooming together with the plum blossoms at the moment, though named with "plum," actually belongs to another category.
Chinese people love flowers, not only for their colors and appearance but also for the personality, symbolism, and spiritual strength they embody. Tao Yuanming, fond of chrysanthemums standing firm and unyielding; Zhou Dunyi loved lotus flowers, writing, "I alone love the lotus that rises out of the mud unsoiled"; Confucius said, "Orchids should be the fragrance of kings," meaning that orchids are the most fragrant among all flowers; Su Shi wrote in a poem, "I fear that deep into the night the flowers will sleep, so I burn bright candles to illuminate their red makeup," depicting the elegance of begonias. Since ancient times, the Chinese have loved plum blossoms, as they symbolize noble, strong, and modest character, giving people the inspiration to strive and strive.
Among the top ten famous flowers, the plum blossom reigns supreme. As the first of the "Four Gentlemen," plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum represent the qualities of pride, seclusion, firmness, and simplicity; the plum, pine, and bamboo are also known as the "Three Companions of Winter." The plum blossom, together with magpies, symbolizes joy reaching the eyebrows... The plum blossom embodies the essence of traditional culture, its character and integrity reflecting the spiritual symbol of the descendants of the dragon. Whether "sitting high in the temple" or "dwelling far in the world," from the wealthy to the common people, for thousands of years, the Chinese have all had a deep love for plum blossoms, with an unwavering affection. In the history of literature and art, the number of plum poems and plum paintings is so great that it can surpass any other flower.
"The snow虐风 and the flowers are more resolute." Lu You compared himself to the firm and unyielding plum blossom, expressing his patriotic fervor. Li Qingzhao, with the elegant and slender interest of plum blossoms, wrote about her personal emotions, leaving behind the famous lines, "Do not恨 the fragrance fading and the snow decreasing, you must believe that the traces are swept away, the affection remains, the good night is faintly moonlit, the sparse shadows are still elegant." "The sparse shadows extend obliquely in the shallow clear water, the faint fragrance floats in the yellow moonlight," the famous reclusive poet Lin Bu of the Northern Song Dynasty praised the graceful charm of winter plum blossoms and used them to imply himself. He was also known as "Plum Wife Crane Son," a metaphor from "Dream Pool Essays" describing Lin Bu's reclusive life and his serene and comfortable sentiments.
The plum blossom is also a symbol of friendship. Su Shi mentioned in "Xiang Xiang Zi · Winter Thoughts" that "holding hands in the river village, plum blossoms drift over the skirts. The emotion is endless, everywhere it captivates the soul." The plum blossoms, like snow, drifting and sticking to the skirts, present the friendship and poetry vividly on paper! The plum blossom can also convey longing, as the Southern Song litterateur Jiang Kui wrote in a ci poem, "In the world, parting is easy and frequent. Seeing the plum branch, suddenly missing someone," longing for the departed. There are also lines like "The sound of the flute breaks the heart of the plum," "A branch broken, in the world and in heaven, no one can send," expressing the feelings of longing.
People respect and admire the plum blossom, hence the term "exploring plum blossoms" when appreciating them, trampling the snow to seek plum blossoms, a profound and elegant act for thousands of years. "Several plum branches in the corner, blooming alone in the cold. From a distance, I know it's not snow, it's the faint fragrance coming." "... Snow falls in front of the village. A thousand searches for the emerald ridge, a branch of beauty..." The plum blossoms blooming in the severe winter are considered a beautiful harbinger of spring, and such imagery is abundant in ancient poetry.
Interestingly, many ancient poems also extol the plum blossoms, including the蜡梅 (wax plum). The蜡梅 blooms yellow flowers and overlaps with the plum blossom blooming season, and it is currently the season when they bloom together, but the蜡梅 blooms earlier. From a botanical perspective, the蜡梅 resembles the plum blossom but is not of the same species. This beautiful misconception is not only confusion of the ancients but also of people today.
When appreciating plum blossoms, one should first observe their color. Plum blossoms come in various colors such as red, pink, and white. Red plum blossoms are fragrant; white plum blossoms look like auspicious snow, a delight to behold. The fragrance of plum blossoms has been praised by scholars and literati throughout the ages as a faint fragrance, with a unique charm, fresh and elegant. Xin Qiji wrote, "Intentionally seeking spring without fragrance, the fragrance is where it cannot be found." The fragrance of plum blossoms is elusive yet refreshing and intoxicating. When appreciating plum blossoms, special attention is given to their charm. Observing the charm of plum blossoms involves the "Four Preciousnesses": precious in scarcity, not in abundance; precious in age, not in youth; precious in slimness, not in stoutness; precious in bud, not in full bloom. In the works of poets and painters, the forms of plum blossoms always involve horizontal, oblique, sparse, and slim postures.
The custom of observing plum blossoms began in the early Han Dynasty, and the practice of painting plum blossoms started in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty, continuing to thrive in subsequent dynasties. To paint plum blossoms, some artists planted plum trees and observed them meticulously when the blossoms opened, depicting the various stages from germination to blooming, from full bloom to withering, and compiled them into a collection of one hundred woodblock prints—the "Plum Blossom Auspicious Spirit谱" by Song Boran, the first special woodblock print collection depicting the various expressions of plum blossoms, an immortal masterpiece. The Yuan Dynasty painter Wang Mian titled his poem "Ink Plum Picture" with the lines, "The plum tree by my washbasin, each flower has a faint ink mark." "The faint ink mark of the flowers" appears both in the poem and in the painting. Wang Mian's plum blossoms are pure and reserved, soft yet elegant, fitting the characteristics of plum blossoms. Modern and contemporary painters such as Wu Changshuo, Zhang Daqian, and Qi Baishi have created plum blossom works with distinct characteristics of the times, reflecting the indomitable spirit of plum blossoms.
"Ten thousand flowers dare to bloom in the snow, one tree alone precedes the spring of the world." Blossoming in the snow, retaining fragrance in the cold, with an iron bone and ice heart, noble character and integrity. The plum blossom, the first among the twenty-four flowers of the message, encourages people to welcome the spring with vigor and vitality!
The detailed explanation above about the qualities represented by plum blossoms and the implications and symbolism of plum blossoms, I hope this article can bring you help in green plant management!