The meaning of plants in Chinese paintings
Plants have always been rich in symbolic meaning.
Throughout the ages, Chinese literati have used certain characteristics, postures, and colors of plants to give people different feelings and create art to express certain thoughts, feelings, or artistic conceptions.
In the creation of traditional Chinese paintings, plum blossoms, bamboos, pine trees, orchids and other plants are always included, most of which represent good fortune and health.
1. Plum blossom
A traditional Chinese famous flower, it is not only elegant and graceful, it has made ancient and modern poets and painters praise it. It is also respected by the world for its icy muscles, jade bones, and cold-lasting fragrance. It is regarded as the essence of the nation.
Mei, with its noble, strong and humble character, inspires people to work hard. In the severe cold, plum blossoms bloom before hundreds of flowers, and spring is the only one in the world. Therefore, it is also regarded as an auspicious symbol by the people to spread the good news of spring.
2. Bamboo
Green and straight, with outstanding appearance. Whenever the cold dew suddenly falls and all the grass withers away, the bamboo can survive the frost without withering, which can be said to be evergreen. The bamboo poles are tall and straight, and have the tendency to grow leaves and vigorous upwards. They are praised by people. People give it the reputation of a "gentleman" with a strong character, high ambition and integrity, as well as an open-minded, upward-spirited and elegant gentleman. Like plums, orchids, chrysanthemums, and pine, it has an outstanding appearance.
It has a noble character and is deeply favored by literati. It is selected as one of the "Three Friends of the Year" and the "Four Gentlemen" among the list.
Many literati in history loved to write poems and ink about them, and
praise them. In folk tradition, there is the custom of setting off firecrackers to drive away the old and welcome the new, and to drive away evil and bring peace. Bamboo is also used as a symbol of peace and auspiciousness in Chinese decorative paintings.
3. Pine
The majestic appearance of pine trees has been intoxicating for eternity. It is an evergreen tree with strong vitality. No matter it is freezing, windy or cold, the greenery is still lush. People give it a strong will and unyielding character, and together with bamboo and plum, it is compared to the "Three Friends of Suihan". And respect it. Folks love it more for its evergreen appearance. In traditional decoration, it represents longevity.
4. Orchid
A traditional Chinese flower, it is a flower famous for its fragrance.
It has a delicate and distant fragrance. One branch in the room fills the room with fragrance. The ancients praised: "The fragrance of orchids covers a country", so it is also called "the fragrance of the country". The leaves of the orchid are evergreen all year round. They are numerous but not messy, they can be looked up and down freely, and their posture is graceful and unique.
Its flowers are plain but not showy, and they are graceful and graceful. With its unique leaves, flowers and fragrance, orchids have four unique qualities (qi, color, spirit and rhyme), giving people a very noble, elegant and beautiful image. Celebrities in ancient and modern times valued it very highly, and it was called a gentleman among flowers. The true friendship is called "orchid friendship",
5, chrysanthemum.
It is beautiful and colorful, but it does not win with its delicate appearance, but wins with its elegance and steadfastness. It blooms after the flowers have withered. People love it for its delicate charm, and even more for its proud appearance that blooms in the frost and never falls in the west wind. Endowed with noble and strong sentiments, it is regarded as a symbol of the national spirit and is loved by people. Chrysanthemum, as the proud flower of frost, has always been favored by poets. The ancients especially liked to use chrysanthemum as a name to compare their noble sentiments and unyielding unyieldingness. In ancient myths and legends, chrysanthemums have been given the meaning of good luck and longevity. For example, the combination of chrysanthemums and magpies means "family happiness"; the combination of chrysanthemums and pine trees means "longevity and longevity", etc.