...... Beyond the Wei (River) It is very open and pleasant. That knight and lady, Merrily they sport. Then she gives him a peony.
(From the Book of Odes, 600 B.C. by an anonymous poet)
This is the oldest record that can be found on the peony. It probably was a wild herbaceous peony root which the young woman presented to the young man. Herbaceous peony in Chinese language is shaoyao (or shoyao) which means "medicinal herb plant". The root of shaoyao was what first interested the Chinese. At a spring festival of song and dance, presenting the root of a peony most probably was like giving a forget-me-not or a love-philter.
In China the peony was the flower par excellence. It had long been used as a medicinal plant before it was cultivated in gardens. Numerous poems, paintings, and pictures on vases glorify the beauty of the peony, which according to legend even rebelled against the will of the Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang dynasty: it was the only flower which refused to bloom in winter at her command. As a punishment it was banished from the imperial gardens. The wrath of the eccentric empress was so fierce that she ordered all the peonies of the capital city to be destroyed.
btw, Festiva Maxima Rose scented, flecked with crimson
Now our friendship is mutual, dear Lida. This photo and its "about" are so wonderful that I added them to my fovorited. Last time I commented on your photo I did not notice the BIP, so I would like to add my compliment about it now. Best regards, Rafi
0 
{K:89517} 7/15/2005
