Chrysanthemums (Dendranthema morifolium) 菊花 are known as ‘gentleman’ of flowers as they are not as pretty and spectacular as plum and peach blossoms. They are said to be symbolic of intellectual accomplishments.

Chrysanthemums begin blooming during autumn. Growing chrysanthemums in retirement has been a popular theme since the fourth century when the famous poet Tao Yuanming (陶淵明) (CE 365 – 427) wrote his poems of renunciation and return to nature. One of his famous poem is as follows:

陶淵明在流傳千古的名詩《飲酒》中寫道:

結廬在人境，而無車馬喧。

問君何能爾？心遠地自偏。

採菊東篱下，悠然見南山。

山氣日夕佳，飛鳥相與還。

此中有真意，欲辯已忘言。

Translation by Zhao Weiwei (趙薇薇) :

I made my home amidst this human bustle, yet I hear no clamour from carts and horses. My friend, you ask me how this can be so? A distant heart will tend towards like places. From the eastern hedge, I pluck chrysanthemum flowers, and idly look towards the southern hills. The mountain air is beautiful day and night; the birds fly back to roost with one another. I know that this must have some deeper meaning. I try to explain, but cannot find the words.

 

Paintings of the Chrysanthemums

Lan Ying (藍瑛) (1585 – 1664), Chrysanthemum, bamboo and rock, ink and watercolours on paper

 

Lan Ying (藍瑛) (1585 – 1664), Chrysanthemum, bamboo and rock, ink and watercolours on paper

 

Qi Baishi 齊白石 (1864 – 1957), Chrysanthemum, ink and watercolour on paper

 

Qi Baishi 齊白石 (1864 – 1957), Chrysanthemum, ink and watercolour on paper

 

Qi Baishi 齊白石 (1864 – 1957), A basket of Chrysanthemum, a tea pot and two cups, ink and watercolour on paper

 

 

Lù Yì fēi (陸抑非 ) (1908 – 1997), Yellow chrysanthemum, ink and watercolour on paper

 

Lù Yì fēi 陸抑非 (1908 – 1997), White chrysanthemum, ink and watercolour on paper

 

Lù Yì fēi 陸抑非 (1908 – 1997), Pink chrysanthemum, ink and watercolour on paper

 

Lù Yì fēi 陸抑非 (1908 – 1997), White chrysanthemum, ink and watercolour on paper

 

Stuart Leung 梁仕釗, Autumn Chrysanthemums (秋菊有佳色), 1963, ink and water-colours on paper, long scroll

 

Scroll Heading: 秋菊有佳色, 仕釗畫, 康候題 Calligraphy by famous calligraphist Feng K’ang-hou 馮康候 (1901 – 1983)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuart Leung, Chrysanthemums under the Moon, 2008, ink and water-colours on paper. Calligraphy : 蘇軾 水調歌頭 明月幾時有，把酒問青天，不知天上宮闕，今夕是何年。 我欲乘風歸去，唯恐瓊樓玉宇，高處不勝寒；起舞弄清影，何似在人間。轉朱閣，低綺戶，照無眠；不應有恨，何事長向別時圓。人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，此事古難全；但願人長久，千里共嬋娟。

 

Acknowledgements:

I would like to thank Mr Stuart Leung most sincerely for allowing me to upload his two masterpieces onto this webpage. In September 2019, Mr Leung held a highly successful Solo Major Exhibition at Chinese Cultural Centre, Chatswood, Sydney to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of his first Solo Major Exhibition in the City Hall, Hong Kong.

 

Bibliography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysantheum

Wang Jing (王靜) (2014) Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum 梅蘭竹菊 Time Publishing and Media Co. Ltd (Apitime)(時代出版), ISBN: 978-7-5461-4505-1

張光賓 (1981) 中國書畫 3 花竹畫 光復書局

Mai-mai Sze (1978) The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting, Princeton University Press

陳相鋒 陳姿娟 (2012) 画室必備 – 中國画技法圖典 菊花篇 湖北美術出版社