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Home , Prunus mume, Three Friends of Winter

Meihua is the of an Asian tree - white, pink, and red. The tree is cultivated mume, a species of the in various gardens throughout , Prunus, section armeniaca. Is known as for its and , with culinary and Chinese , although is more closely medicinal uses, and also as an ornamental related to the . tree.

This flower is a beloved subject in the traditional culture of East Asia.

Prunus mume originated in the south of around the River and was later introduced to , , , Laos, and . It can be found in sparse forests, stream sides, forested slopes along trails and mountains, sometimes at altitudes up to 1700 to 3100 meter, and regions of cultivation. As the plum tree can usually grow for a The tree that starts flowering in mid- long time, ancient trees are found winter, typically around January or throughout China. Huangmei county in February in East Asia. It can grow to 4–10 Hubei province features a 1,600-year-old meters tall. The flowers are 2-2.5 cm in plum tree from the Jin Dynasty which is diameter and have a strong fragrant scent. still flowering. They have colors in varying shades of

Cultural significance

Plum blossoms have been well loved and celebrated in mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

“Clustering Chinese Plum Blossoms” by Chen Xianzhang (陳獻章; 1428–1500) of the (1368– 1644); Hunan Provincial Museum collection, China. Meihua is one of the most beloved flowers Because it blossoms in the cold winter, the in China and has been frequently depicted plum blossom is regarded as one of the in Chinese art and poetry for centuries. “”, along with is seen as a symbol of pine, and . The plum blossom is winter and a harbinger of spring. The also regarded as one of the “Four blossoms are so beloved because they are Gentlemen” of flowers in Chinese art viewed as blooming most vibrantly amidst together with the orchid, , the winter snow, exuding an ethereal and bamboo. It is one of the “Flowers of elegance, while their fragrance is noticed the Four Seasons”, which consist of the to still subtly pervade the air at even the orchid (spring), the lotus (summer), the coldest times of the year. Therefore the chrysanthemum (autumn) and the plum plum blossom came to symbolize blossom (winter). These groupings are perseverance and hope, but also beauty, seen repeatedly in the Chinese aesthetic of purity, and the transitoriness of life. In art, painting, literature, and . , the plum blossom stands for the principles and values of virtue.

“Plum Blossoms” by the painter Chen Lu (陳錄) “Blossoming plum” by the painter Wang Mian (王冕) An example of the plum blossom's literary significance is found in the life and work of poet Lin Bu (林逋) of the (960–1279). One of his most famous poems is “Little Plum Blossom of Hill Garden” (山園小梅).

眾芳搖落獨暄妍，

占斷風情向小園。 When everything has faded they alone shine forth, 疏影橫斜水清淺， encroaching on the charms of smaller gardens. Their scattered shadows fall lightly on clear water, 暗香浮動月黃昏。 their subtle scent pervades the moonlit dusk. 霜禽欲下先偷眼， Snowbirds look again before they land, butterflies would faint if they but knew. 粉蝶如知合斷魂。 Thankfully I can flirt in whispered verse, 幸有微吟可相狎， I don't need a sounding board or winecup. 不須檀板共金樽。

During the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), appreciation of nature at night plays an the garden designer Ji Cheng (計成) important role in Chinese gardens, for this reason there are classical pavilions for the described the plum tree as the “beautiful tradition of viewing plum blossoms by the woman of the forest and moon”. The moonlight.

Branches of plum blossoms are often arranged in or ceramic vases (meiping). These vases can hold single branches of plum blossoms and are traditionally used to display the blossoms in a home since the early Song Dynasty (960–1279).

Plum blossoms are often used as decoration during the Spring Festival ()

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meihua