Cihci Plant Illustrated Dictionary

Author: Pan Fujun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The Illustrated Guide to Plants in the Chuci presents 100 species of southern plants from important chapters of the Chuci, all accompanied by stunning photography and professional botanical explanations. Not only is it visually appealing, but it also allows you to delve into the characteristics of the plants, helping you understand the ingenuity of the poets and grasp the true meaning of the classic passages. Across the centuries, let us join the ancients in their journey and experience the enduring vitality of literary life. This book creatively merges natural science with classical literature, applying the techniques of colorful illustrated reference books to the field of Chinese classical literature. With clear explanations and crisp photographs, it introduces numerous fragrant grasses and trees, as well as noxious ones from the Chuci. The Chuci often uses fragrant and noxious plants to metaphorically represent loyal and treacherous individuals, exerting a profound influence on later generations. Beyond pioneering the literary tradition of comparison and allusion in describing objects, it also led scholars to inherit and recite these verses, forming a stereotypical set of values about plants. Orchids and lilies are beautiful, while artemisia and other noxious plants are considered inferior— two extremes, seemingly incompatible. However, the author of this book meticulously examines the ecological characteristics of the plants, breaking down the division between beauty and evil, offering a unique perspective.