Abstract Expressionist Peony

Author: He Lanzuo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-08-01
Features: "National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance" has long been a renowned name for peonies. Tang Dynasty poet Pi Rixiu once said: "Compete with the world for no equal, solely occupy the fragrance." Peonies are fully justified in being hailed as the national flower. The peony's status as the "national flower" has a long history. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, peonies have been called "National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance." During the Ming Dynasty, a "National Flower Terrace" was built in Beijing's Jiele Temple to plant peonies. In the Qing Dynasty, peonies were revered as the national flower, and a National Flower Terrace was constructed in the Summer Palace. The dictionaries "Ciyuan" and "Chinese Language Dictionary" both state in the "National Flower" entry that "China has long regarded the peony as its national flower." In 1959, Premier Zhou Enlai, during an inspection in Luoyang, said: "Peonies are China's national flower, with their elegance and grandeur, symbolizing the prosperity and happiness of our Chinese nation."
"The national beauty is drunk in the morning, the heavenly fragrance dyes the clothes at night." These are the verses of Tang Dynasty poet Li Zhengfeng praising peonies. "National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance" truly captures the essence of peonies. "National Beauty" lies fundamentally in its form beauty, "with delicate skin and lush body, all forms are unparalleled. The red ones are like the sun, the white ones are like the moon." "Outshining a hundred flowers in brilliance," "Capturing the fresh radiance of trees." Yet her temperament is even more distinctive than other red flowers.