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Understanding the 24 solar terms and the importance of learning traditional Chinese flower art

中華花藝課學生作品
Works by students in Chinese floral art class

 

With climate change, the current climate characteristics of solar terms may be different from those described by ancients. Take the Xiaohan solar term as an example. The ancients recorded that plum blossoms, camellias and daffodils competed for beauty during the Xiaohan period. However, nowadays, the temperature in the north is often higher than in the ancient times, and the plum blossoms bloom earlier. Similarly, the blooming time of orchids also changes during the Great Cold Period. But even so, understanding the traditional Chinese twenty-four solar terms and their corresponding flowers is still of great benefit to learning Chinese floral art.

According to the ancient book “Jingchu Suishiji”, there are eight solar terms from Xiaohan to Guyu. Each solar term has three periods, totaling twenty-four periods. Each period is represented by a specific flower. This arrangement is both methodical and highly poetic. This tradition of carefully pairing solar terms with flowers not only reflects the ancients’ profound observation of the changes in nature, but also contains their understanding and yearning for beautiful things. These flowers have profound symbolic meanings in traditional Chinese culture, reflecting the ancients’ understanding and yearning for beautiful things.

For example, the three periods of Xiaohan solar term represent plum blossoms, camellias and daffodils respectively, which imply tenacity, elegance and purity. The Great Cold solar term corresponds to daphne, orchids and alum, which symbolize auspiciousness, nobility and kindness. The flower meanings of other solar terms also have their own characteristics. For example, the begonia, pear blossom and magnolia at the vernal equinox represent elegance, elegance and nobility.

Although today’s climate is different from that of the ancients, understanding these traditional floral symbols helps us better appreciate and understand Chinese floral works. It is undoubtedly a valuable resource for learners who love Chinese flower arrangements.

There are a total of 8 solar terms from Xiaohan to Guyu, 120 days in total. Every 5 days is one period, and every 15 days is one period, totaling 24 periods. Each period corresponds to a kind of flower, so it is also called “Twenty-Four Flower Trade Winds”.

According to Zong Mao of the Southern Dynasty’s “Records of the Years of Jingchu”: “The plum blossoms begin and the neem blossoms end.”

Osamu: plum blossoms in the first season, camellia in the second season, and daffodils in the third season;

Dahan: Daphne in the first season, orchids in the second season, and mountain alum in the third season;

Beginning of Spring: The first time is to welcome the spring, the second time is for the cherries, and the third time is for the spring;

Rain: cauliflower in the first phase, apricot flowers in the second phase, and plum blossoms in the third phase;

Jingzhe: peach blossoms in the first season, Ditang in the second season, and roses in the third season;

Spring Equinox: Begonia in the first phase, pear blossom in the second phase, and magnolia in the third phase;

Qingming Festival: Tung blossoms in the first phase, wheat flowers in the second phase, and willow flowers in the third phase;

Grain Rain: Peony in the first season, tea plant in the second season, and neem in the third season.

The following are excerpts of 24 ancient poems that describe the scenery through the use of flowers and flowers for your enjoyment.

 

1. Plum Blossom

plum bossom

Song Dynasty: Wang Anshi

There are several plum trees in the corner, and Ling Han is blooming alone.

I know it’s not snow from a distance, because there is a faint fragrance coming.

 

 

2. Camellia

camellia

Song Dynasty: Lu You

It was rainy and windy in March in the East Garden, and the peaches and plums were scattered all over the ground.

Only the camellia is more durable, and there are a few red branches in the green bush.

 

 

3. Narcissus

Wang Chongdao sent fifty daffodils as a gift. He was pleased to express his gratitude and sang a poem to them.

Song Dynasty: Huang Tingjian

Fairy Lingbo is born with dusty socks, and her light steps on the water are as small as the moon.

Who caused this heartbroken soul to plant cold flowers to express sorrow?

The fragrant body is full of lust, and the mountain alum is the younger brother and the plum blossom is the elder brother.

Sitting in front of me, I was really annoyed by the flowers, and when I went out, I smiled like a river.

 

 

4. Daphne

daphne flower

Song Dynasty: Wang Shipeng

It is really auspicious among the flowers, and the name of this dynasty has just begun to be heard.

After a dream in the south of the Yangtze River, the world admires Qingfen.

 

 

5. Orchid

antiquity

Tang: Li Bai

A solitary orchid grows in a secluded garden, and all the grass grows withered.

Although the sun is shining brightly, the autumn moon is full of sadness.

The flying frost is pattering early, and the green color is afraid of resting.

If there is no breeze blowing, for whom will the fragrance come out?

Song Dynasty Yi Shida’s “Two Orchids – One”

In spring, the orchid buds are extraordinarily long, and they don’t hang up with the red leaves.

After the plum blossoms fade, I know who will succeed them, and I will give the lingering fragrance to the flowers.

 

 

6. Alum

Playing and chanting the mountain alum flowers beside the Gaojie Pavilion

Song Dynasty: Huang Tingjian

The bamboo beside the Gaojie Pavilion is empty, and the mountain alum is leaning against the spring breeze alone.

Two or three gentlemen were smiling, and the broken flowers were blocked by water.

 

 

7. Winter jasmine

Play with winter jasmine flowers and give them to Mr. Yang

Tang Dynasty: Bai Juyi

The golden green calyx brings the spring cold, and there are several yellow flowers!

Pingjun and the tourists, don’t look at the flowers with green eyes.

 

 

8. Cherry Blossom

cherry blossom

Tang Dynasty: Pi Rixiu

The fragrance of the graceful branches is blowing in the wine pot, and Xiangyang suspects that it is not melting.

Late in the evening, the mountains are so tall and muddy that they are only supported by the spring breeze.

 

 

9. Looking at spring flowers

Xinyi flower

Tang Dynasty: Yuan Zhen

When I asked you about the Xinyi flowers, your words were mottled.

Don’t be afraid of Xinyi, don’t let it go, take care of the restraint of my muscles and bones.

The prisoners were sent and named censors, and the fields were littered with prisoners.

Tomorrow, I will not push the boundaries of the country, and I will not get drunk before the flowers.

Han Yuan’s mother-in-law is fond of Xinyi, so she begged for a few branches.

Don’t cherish it if you break a branch as a gift to you. Even if you don’t break it, the wind will blow it.

 

10.Cauliflower

Suxin City Xugong Store

Song: Yang Wanli

The hedges are sparsely one foot deep, and the flowers on the trees have not yet formed shade.

The children hurriedly chased the yellow butterfly, which flew into the cauliflower and was nowhere to be found.

 

11. Apricot Blossom

apricot blossom

Tang Dynasty: Luo Yin

The latent heating urges spring, the plum blossoms have faded and the apricot blossoms are new.

In a leisurely garden that is half open and half fallen, it is so different from the prosperous and withered people in the world.

 

12.Li Hua

Li Hua

Song: Yang Wanli

Plum blossoms should be far away and more numerous, but only being far away is enough to see them.

Don’t follow Jiang Mei’s example of sparse shadows. Each family’s tradition is the same.

“Li Hua” by Li Bai of Tang Dynasty

The country of spring brings warmth and flowers bloom, and it comes first to welcome spring and bloom gold.

The fire burns the leaves of the forest, the red clouds fall, and the plum blossoms bloom in full bloom, and the whole tree turns white.

 

 

13.Peach Blossom

Dalin Temple Peach Blossom

Tang Dynasty: Bai Juyi

The beauty of April in the world is gone, and the peach blossoms in the mountain temple are beginning to bloom.

Everlasting regret has no place to return to in spring, and I don’t know where to turn.

 

 

14.Tangdi

The Book of Songs Xiaoya Tangdi

The beauty of Tangdi is like that of Ebu Weiwei. All people today are better than brothers.

The power of death and mourning, brother Kong Huai, Yuan Xisi is gone, brother begs for it.

The order of the spine is in the original, and the brothers are in urgent need. Every time I have a good friend, I am also begging for help.

The brothers are jealous of each other and guard their affairs outside the wall. Whenever they have good friends, they will not be wary.

When chaos and chaos subside, there is peace and tranquility. Even if we have brothers, it is better to live in friendship.

The two brothers are in harmony with each other, and they are happy and happy after drinking wine.

The wife is harmonious, like a drum, harp, and harp, and the brothers are both in peace and harmony.

A good family, a happy wife and money, this is just a picture, it is so natural.

 

 

15.Rose

rose rose

Tang: Qi has already

The root is like a rose, with beautiful thorns blooming outward.

The fragrant bushes are tall and there are shelves, and the ground is red and mossy.

Go live and watch the idlers, the clear sky will bring butterflies from afar.

The peonies bloomed for a few days before disappearing to the dust.

 

 

16. Begonia

Begonia

Song Dynasty: Su Shi

The east wind is full of glory, and the fragrant mist is filled with moonlight in the corridor.

I was afraid that the flowers would fall asleep late at night, so I burned a high candle to illuminate my red makeup.

 

 

17.Pear Blossom

Linjiang Fairy Pear Blossom

Yuan: Liu Bingzhong

The skin of ice and snow has a delicate fragrance, and the moonlight alone leans against the lantern.

The gossamer lingers in the smoke ring. If the east wind does not blow away, it should be protected from the cold.

It is not appropriate to add color to quality, and you must know that creation is not frugal.

The apricot blossom is full of talent and withered. Jade Rongchun is lonely, don’t look into the rain.

 

 

18.Mulan

Qu Yuan·Li Sao

Drink the dew of the magnolia in the morning, and eat the fallen chrysanthemums of autumn in the evening.

 

 

19. Tung Blossom

Tung flowers beside the road

Song: Yang Wanli

When spring comes, everything is happy, and when spring returns, the sun is full of joy.

There is no one to look forward to the spring, but there are still tung flowers leading the canal.

 

 

 

20.Maihua

late spring

Song: Wang Mai

The clouds are red for three days, and the smoke is green and there are several peaks.

When the mulberries are ripe, doves call for rain, and when the wheat flowers turn yellow, swallows turn over the wind.

 

 

 

21.Willow Flower

Farewell to Jinling Winery

Tang: Li Bai

The wind blows the fragrance of willow flowers all over the shop, and Wu Ji presses wine for guests to taste. The disciples of Jinling came to see me off.

Whether you want to do it or not, it’s up to you. Please ask me about Dongliu Shui. I don’t know who is good or bad with it.

 

 

22. Peony

Appreciate peonies

Tang Dynasty: Liu Yuxi

The peony demon in front of the court has no integrity, and the hibiscus on the pond has little emotion.

Only peonies are the true national color, and they move the capital when they bloom.

 

 

23. Tumi

Spring tour to the small garden

Song: Wang Qi

A bunch of plum powder fades away the remaining makeup, and paints the new red begonia.

The flowers are in full bloom, and thorns sprout from the berry wall.

 

 

 

24.Neem flower

Sending spring to friends

Song: Qiu Yuan

The old man wants to write a poem to send off spring, but he wants to ask where spring will be when it comes.

Lian Chao was drunk and unconscious, and he didn’t even know about Chun’s return last night.

The guest pretends to be returning home in the spring, and his home is in the green shade of the West Lake.

Green bamboo shoots and white fish are also often vegetarian among the guests.

The cuckoo kisses the blood and cries before it dries. It is easy to turn white and black but hard to stay in spring.

The old man in Yecheng will definitely have something new to say, and the neem flower will give rise to the lingering cold in the wind.