The Four Gentlemen——Plum Blossom
The Four Gentlemen——Four Plants of Virtue (花中四君子)
Four Plants of Virtue梅兰竹菊, a classical Chinese painting. (Source)
The Four Gentlemen (Sì Jūnzǐ 四君子) is the collective name of four plants: plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. They are all native to China and of high ornamental and cultural value.
You can appreciate the plum blossom that defies the wintry snow, relish the intoxicating smell of the orchid flowers in spring, and gaze in awe at the chrysanthemum that blooms loftily against the bitter frost in the autumn sunshine, or simply abandon yourself in the evergreen bamboos.
Wang Jing (in ‘Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum’, Chinese Red)
According to Chinese traditional culture, junzi (i.e. gentlemen – of course, nowadays including ladies) refers to people of great virtue and noble character. The natural characteristics of these plants are considered to have something in common with human virtues; they were used by ancient Chinese literati in poems and paintings to express loftiness, righteousness, modesty, purity, and perseverance against harsh conditions, amongst other virtues valued in Chinese culture.
The Four Gentlemen have been used in Chinese brush painting since the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279) and were later adopted by artists in Japan, Korea, and other Asian countries. The tradition of using these plants in art has continued to the present day and examples can often be found in people’s living rooms, studies, and even hotel lobbies.
Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum were collectively featured on a set of four stamps issued by China Post in 2010. Instead of simply showing ornamental flowers, they are presented in a sophisticated arrangement of traditional Chinese cultural forms (painting, calligraphy, and poetry), bestowing a new meaning with humanistic significance. This was a breakthrough in Chinese flower stamp design.
Visitors viewing red plum blossoms at a plum garden in Anhui, China, 3 March 2022
The plum bursts into a riot of blossoms in deep winter before the leaves, defying cold and snow, to herald the spring. The plum blossom is delicate yet hardy, displaying vibrantly with an elegant fragrance. It serves as a metaphor for an indomitable spirit of inner beauty and modesty in adversity. In folk culture, the five petals of the plum blossom represent the five blessings: Fu (福happiness; good luck), Lu (禄fortune; salary), Shou (寿 longevity), Xi (喜 joy), and Cai (财 wealthy).
VAST VARIETIES, ALL BEAUTIES
The botanical name of the plum is Prunus mume. In China, there are over 300 recorded cultivars of it. Six of these cultivars were featured on a set of “Plum Blossom” stamps issued by China Post in 1985. From top left to bottom right, they are the Green Calyx Form (Lü’e Xing 綠萼型); Pendulous Mei Group, Prunus mume var. pendula (Chuizhimei Lei 垂枝梅類); Tortuous Dragon Group, Prunus mume var. tortuosa (Longyoumei Lei 龍游梅類); Cinnabar Purple Form (Zhusha Xing (硃砂型); Versicolor Form (Sajin Xing 灑金型) and Apricot Mei Group, Prunus mume var. bungo (Xingmei Lei 杏梅類). They were selected by Professor Chen Junyu, the Director of the Department of Landscape Architecture of Beijing Forestry University and a plum blossom expert.
CULTURAL HERITAGE ON THE MUSEUM OBJECTS
The plum features many forms of Chinese and East Asian antiquities such as porcelain, woodwork, and textile.
A tea or ginger jar with Ice Plum Pattern, Kangxi, Qing Dynasty (1662-1772), China
Regarding plum blossoms, Mannssi presents a rose quartz beaded bracelet. This handmade bracelet features rose quartz gemstone beads paired with 18k gold Enamel Craft plum blossom shapes, combining East and West. It gives people inspiration to aspire and a positive attitude towards life. This beads bracelet is perfect as an anxiety bracelet.
Plum Blossom Rose Quartz Chunky Beads Handmade Bracelet
The ode to the Plum Blossom may seem endless… however, winter is almost over and spring is nearly here! The next post will be on the noble plant for spring.