The chrysanthemum is one of the four "honourable plants" in China. The others are plum, orchid and bamboo, they are symbols of special beauty, vitality, and nobility.
Most Chinese do not have fervent religious attachment, instead, they often draw wisdom and inspiration from nature. Many flowers and plants have been so much praised and painted that they enjoy special honorable status. Chrysanthemum is the choice for the autumn.
In autumn, when all other flowers are fading away, the chrysanthemum is able to flourish in the cold winds. The combination of beauty with strong character made an ideal personality in the eyes of romantic Chinese scholars. In traditional China, many parents put "ju" (the Chinese word for chrysanthemum) into their daughter's name, hoping the girl will grow up strong and beautiful.
There are more than 3,000 varieties of chrysanthemum in China today. However, originally it was just a small yellow flower, probably not much different from the ones we see at our local grocery stores at this time every year. After generations of cultivation, the number of varieties multiplied rapidly. In the Chrysanthemum Book of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), 35 varieties were noted. By the time of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the number had risen to 136. By the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), more than 900 varieties of chrysanthemum were listed in the classic Chinese herb book "Ben Cao Gang Mu" by Li Shizhen.
One of the Chinese 1 yuan coin has chrysanthemum on its face, with beautiful curling petals and an aura of elegance.
Chrysanthemums are also favored as a healthy herb. One popular variety of chrysanthemum, known as "Hang Bai Ju" (Hangzhou White Chrysanthemum), is believed to have special health care properties. The visual beauty of a blooming chrysanthemum in the teapot or drinking glass is another attraction. Many Chinese women drink chrysanthemum tea or simply put the flower into green tea for extra health benefit and beauty.
Because chrysanthemum is able to thrive in the cold weather, ancient Chinese people believed that it must have attracted "the soul of the sky and earth", therefore there must be some health benefit. A book from Han Dynasty (206-220 BC) said there used to be a village named Gangu in Central China's Henan Province where all the villagers lived to a great age, some as long as 130 years. The Village's drinking water was from a nearby stream that contained the petals of chrysanthemums, which had fallen into the stream up in the mountains.
Most Chinese do not have fervent religious attachment, instead, they often draw wisdom and inspiration from nature. Many flowers and plants have been so much praised and painted that they enjoy special honorable status. Chrysanthemum is the choice for the autumn.
In autumn, when all other flowers are fading away, the chrysanthemum is able to flourish in the cold winds. The combination of beauty with strong character made an ideal personality in the eyes of romantic Chinese scholars. In traditional China, many parents put "ju" (the Chinese word for chrysanthemum) into their daughter's name, hoping the girl will grow up strong and beautiful.
There are more than 3,000 varieties of chrysanthemum in China today. However, originally it was just a small yellow flower, probably not much different from the ones we see at our local grocery stores at this time every year. After generations of cultivation, the number of varieties multiplied rapidly. In the Chrysanthemum Book of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), 35 varieties were noted. By the time of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the number had risen to 136. By the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), more than 900 varieties of chrysanthemum were listed in the classic Chinese herb book "Ben Cao Gang Mu" by Li Shizhen.
One of the Chinese 1 yuan coin has chrysanthemum on its face, with beautiful curling petals and an aura of elegance.
Chrysanthemums are also favored as a healthy herb. One popular variety of chrysanthemum, known as "Hang Bai Ju" (Hangzhou White Chrysanthemum), is believed to have special health care properties. The visual beauty of a blooming chrysanthemum in the teapot or drinking glass is another attraction. Many Chinese women drink chrysanthemum tea or simply put the flower into green tea for extra health benefit and beauty.
Because chrysanthemum is able to thrive in the cold weather, ancient Chinese people believed that it must have attracted "the soul of the sky and earth", therefore there must be some health benefit. A book from Han Dynasty (206-220 BC) said there used to be a village named Gangu in Central China's Henan Province where all the villagers lived to a great age, some as long as 130 years. The Village's drinking water was from a nearby stream that contained the petals of chrysanthemums, which had fallen into the stream up in the mountains.
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