Chrysanthemum Culture

The chrysanthemum (菊花) is a very popular flower in China. The beautiful flower has many meanings in Chinese culture.

The chrysanthemum is known as one of the “Four Gentlemen in Plants”. The other three are the plum blossom, the orchid, and bamboo. In the past, all of them stood for noble (高尚的) qualities.

The chrysanthemum comes out in bright colours during cold autumn days, when most flowers die. They are beautiful, strong and tough. So the flower greatly inspired (激励) ancient Chinese poets. They used it to represent (代表) themselves in their works.

Tao Yuanming was a famous poet. He once wrote a poem about living as a hermit (隐士). He showed how he loved the chrysanthemum and used it to show his spirit in the poem.

“I pluck chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge, and gaze afar toward the southern mountains (采菊东篱下，悠然见南山),” Tao wrote in his poem. Since then, the chrysanthemum has become the symbol of the hermit.

But chrysanthemums are not only found in Chinese poems. They are also part of Chinese food. The Chongyang Festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar (阴历). On that day, drinking wine (酒) made from chrysanthemums is a popular tradition. Chrysanthemum tea is also usually seen on Chinese dinner tables. It tastes great and people believe it is good for their health.

In a word, the chrysanthemum has brought great influence to people’s life.