What orchid monographs have existed through the ages? A survey of Chinese orchid classics in one article

"Lanpu Aofa" (Profound Methods of the Orchid Manual), 1 volume, by Zhao Shigeng, Song dynasty, 1233. 1. "Yimen Guangdu" Caomu; 2. "Congshu Jicheng Chubian" Applied Science category; 3. "Photolithographic Reprint of Sixty Rare Yuan and Ming Editions"; 3. "Shuoruo" Commercial Press edition, volume 63. "Wangshi Lanpu" (Wang's Orchid Manual), 1 volume, by Wang Guixue, Song dynasty, 1247. 1. "Shanju Xiaowan"; 2. "Shuoruo" Wanwei Shantang edition, volume 103; 3. "Xiangyan Congshu" vol. 9; 4. "Guoxue Zhenben Wenku" vol. 1; 5. "Qunfang Qingwan"; 6. "Shuoruo" Commercial Press edition, volume 63

"Quanfang Beizu" by Chen Jingyi, Song dynasty, 1256. Chen Jingyi, given name Yong, known by his courtesy name, style name Feidunzi, was a native of Huangyan, Zhejiang. During the reign of Emperor Lizong of Song he submitted a memorial discussing plans for national recovery, which went unanswered, so he devoted himself to writing. He compiled "Quanfang Beizu" in a former and latter collection totaling 58 volumes. The matter is recorded in the Guangxu edition of the "Huangyan County Gazetteer", volume 20.

"Zhongyi Biyong" by Wu Zan, Song dynasty

"Yilan Yueling" (Monthly Ordinances for Cultivating Orchids) by Li Yuanzhong, Song dynasty. Li Tong (1093-1163), courtesy name Yuanzhong, known as Mr. Yanping, was a native of Jianpu (present-day Nanping, Fujian). He studied under Luo Gongyan. Later he retired to the countryside and cut himself off from worldly affairs for over forty years. In the 23rd year of Emperor Gaozong's Shaoxing era (1154), Zhu Xi became his disciple. In the 32nd year, they met again at Jian'an. He died in the 1st year of Emperor Xiaozong's Longxing era, aged 71, and was posthumously titled Wenjing. He wrote "Yanping Wenda" and "Yulu", which circulated in his time. Zhang Boxing of the Qing compiled "Collected Works of Mr. Yanping" in 4 volumes, included in "Zhengyi Tang Quanshu". The matter is recorded in "Huian Ji" vol. 97, "Biography of Mr. Li of Yanping", "Wending Ji" vol. 22, "Epitaph of Mr. Li of Yanping", and Mao Nianshi's Qing "Chronological Biography of the Four Masters of Yanping"; the "Song History" vol. 428 contains his biography. Suspected to be a later forgery attributed to him.

"Zhizheng Zhiji" by Kong Jingzhai, Yuan dynasty

"Nanzhong Youfang Lu" by Yang Andao, spring of the 10th year of Yongle, Ming dynasty, 1412. At the end of the Yuan dynasty, Duan Gong, the administrator of Dali, defeated the Red Turban Army that had entered Yunnan and saved the Yuan-appointed Prince of Liang in Yunnan, Tiemur Buhua. To express his gratitude, the Prince of Liang married his youngest daughter, Princess A'gai, to Duan Gong as a secondary wife, thereby forming an alliance by marriage, and memorialized to appoint Duan Gong as Pingzhang of the Yunnan provincial administration. But after Duan Gong left Dali for Kunming, the Prince of Liang again suspected that Duan Gong harbored the intention of "swallowing Jinma and gulping Biji" and prepared to kill him. The Prince of Liang first instructed Princess A'gai to poison him with peacock gall, but A'gai refused; she had privately warned Duan Gong and shown him the peacock gall, expressing her willingness to flee back to Dali with Duan Gong overnight. But Duan Gong, relying on his merits toward the Prince of Liang, did not believe A'gai's words. Seeing that A'gai would not carry it out, the Prince of Liang devised another plan, inviting Duan Gong to burn incense at the East Temple; when Duan Gong reached the Tongji Bridge, he was shot dead by a volley of arrows from Liang soldiers already lying in ambush. After Duan Gong's death, his daughter Baoji, born of his principal wife, in order to avenge her father, married the Yi chieftain Ali of Jianchang (present-day Xichang, Sichuan), hoping to form an alliance to deal with the Prince of Liang together. But Ali was sunk in wine and women and had no intention of raising troops, so Baoji had no hope of revenge. After Ali's death, Baoji thenceforth lived a vegetarian life as a Buddhist nun. By the 16th year of Hongwu (1383 AD), after the Ming had unified Yunnan, the Duan clan received pardon, and Baoji returned to Dali with her children. In the winter of the 26th year of Hongwu (winter of 1393 AD), Baoji built the Gengzi Orchid Garden at the foot of Lan Peak of Cangshan, north of Lan Stream; in the garden she cultivated more than a hundred famous Yunnan orchid varieties, and thenceforth lived in seclusion in the orchid garden, calling herself "Orchid Chamber Lay Buddhist". Yang Andao, one of the "Seven Worthies of Nanzhong", evaluated 38 superior orchid varieties from the garden and compiled them into a volume, which Baoji titled "Nanzhong Youfang Lu". It also includes over 160 poems by various people expressing their feelings about orchids, as well as "Record of the Gengzi Orchid Garden" written by Zhu Jingxian, the woodcutter of Nanhu.

"Yanglan Jue" (Secret of Orchid Cultivation), 1 volume, by Li Kui, Ming dynasty. 1. "Guang Baichuan Xuehai" Guiji; 2. "Linbian Linxia"

"Lanpu" (Orchid Manual) by Gao Lian, Ming dynasty. Gao Lian was a Ming dynasty opera writer. Courtesy name Shenfu, style name Ruinan. A native of Qiantang, Zhejiang (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). He once served as an official of the Court of State Ceremonial in Beijing, and later lived in seclusion by West Lake. He was born around the early Jiajing era, and his creative activity was mainly in the early Wanli period. His chuanqi operas include "Jiexiao Ji" and "Yuzan Ji"; he also wrote "Nanci Yunxuan", "Nangong Ciji", "Wusao Hebian", "Cilin Yixiang", the first and second collections of "Yashangzhai Shicao", "Fangzhi Lou Ci", and "Zunsheng Bajian", among other works. "Guang Baichuan Xuehai" Guiji

The orchid manual section of "Zunsheng Bajian", 1 volume, by Gao Lian, Ming dynasty, 1591. "Meishu Congshu" third collection, vol. 10

"Luozhongzhai Lanpu" (Orchid Manual of Luozhong Studio), 1 volume, by Zhang Yingwen, Ming dynasty, 1596. Zhang Yingwen was a native of Jiading, Shanghai, a Ming bibliophile. Courtesy name Maoshi, style name Yizhai, also written Yifu, and also styled Mr. Pihe. He was a student of the Imperial College; having repeatedly failed the examinations, he devoted himself entirely to antique objects, calligraphy, and painting for his own enjoyment. He was broadly learned in ancient and modern matters and was a close friend of Wang Shizhen. He was good at composition, skilled in calligraphy, and rich in book collecting. He excelled at orchids and bamboo, and also dabbled in astrology and yin-yang. After moving from Jiading to Changzhou (present-day Suzhou), he took the meaning of Ni Zan's "Qingmi Ge" and named his book collection place "Qingmi Cang". He wrote "Qinghe Shuhua Fang" in 12 volumes, "Qingmi Cang" in 2 volumes, and also "Zhangshi Cangshu", "Chaoju Xiaogao", and others. "Meishu Congshu" fourth collection, vol. 10

"Lanpu Aofa" by Zhou Lüqing, Ming dynasty, 1597. Zhou Lüqing was a famous bibliophile of Jiaxing, Zhejiang. He wrote the cookbook "Yiya Yiyi"; the qigong daoyin works "Chifeng Sui" and "Yimen Guangdu"; the tea book "Chade Song"; the orchid manual "Lanpu Aofa", and others.

"Qunfang Pu" by Wang Xiangjin, Ming dynasty, 1621. Wang Xiangjin was a Ming agronomist. A native of Xincheng, Shandong (present-day Huantai, Shandong). He called himself the Reclusive Farmer of Ming and the Lay Buddhist Haosheng. He became a jinshi in 1604 and rose to Right Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhejiang. In his daily home life, he supervised his servants in planting grains, vegetables, flowers, fruits, bamboo, trees, mulberry and hemp, and medicinal herbs in the fields and garden, accumulating practical knowledge; adding documentary records and information obtained through visits and inquiries, in 1621 he wrote the book "Qunfang Pu", whose full title is "Erru Ting Qunfang Pu", in 30 volumes, about 400,000 characters, covering twelve categories: heaven, seasons, grains, vegetables, fruits, tea and bamboo, mulberry and hemp, kudzu and cotton, medicine, trees, flowers, and cranes and fish; for each plant it describes in detail the morphological characteristics, which is the distinguishing feature of this book; the cultivation methods described are mostly taken from other books, and allusions and literary pieces occupy a great deal of space.

"Guang Qunfang Pu", 100 volumes, imperially commissioned by the Sage Ancestor Emperor in the 47th year of Kangxi, Qing dynasty, 1708. Imperially commissioned Guang Qunfang Pu in 100 volumes, in the 47th year of Kangxi the Sage Ancestor Emperor commissioned it. It was expanded from the Ming Wang Xiangjin's "Qunfang Pu". In all, three of its categories were corrected: the Heaven section and the Seasons section were merged into a Records of Seasons, describing only the flourishing and withering of phenology, while the miscellaneous records of disasters and omens in the Heaven section and the broad enumeration of seasonal sequences in the Seasons section were all deleted and not recorded. The crane and fish section, having no relation to planting and no relation to practical use, was simply deleted entirely. Four changes were made to its format. Originally the entries were divided and titled, with inconsistencies front and back; now for each thing its name and form are first explained, then facts are verified and cited, all under the general heading Huikao. Poems and inscribed verses are all under the general heading Jizao. Methods of preparation, use, and transplanting are all under the general heading Bielu. The item on healing, lest the collation be imprecise and a rigid prescription cause harm, was likewise simply removed. As for Xiangjin, born in the late Ming, he could not see the prosperity of the great assembly of the peaceful age; now, however, the shifting sands and twisted trees all enter the domain, and by sea and by mountain all pay tribute, so that products of extraordinary regions and remote lands, unheard of in antiquity, are all recorded one by one in detail, to display the grand order of the sage dynasty. Moreover, Xiangjin, being at leisure in his rural dwelling, wrote his book only occasionally, and could not glimpse the secrets of the imperial libraries, so his textual research was rather lax, and what he recorded was mostly resold from such books as "Huajing" and "Pushuo", sometimes losing their source, sometimes erring in their names, with errors and omissions too numerous to count. Now, however, the treasures of the Eastern Observatory are opened, the storehouse of the Western Kun is unlocked, and tracing to the source and exhausting the origin, all is carefully supplemented and corrected, to form a great compendium of broad learning. It was granted the title "Guang Qunfang Pu", which was simply the sage praising even the slightest good and not obscuring the merit of the originator. In reality, the newly compiled portion is eight or nine tenths, and Xiangjin's old text survives only one or two tenths.

"Lan Yi" (Orchid Changes), 2 volumes, by Lu Tingweng, Ming dynasty. Lu Tingweng and Qin Xizi are both pseudonyms of Feng Jingdi. Feng Jingdi was a native of Ningbo, Zhejiang, courtesy name Jizhong, style name Dianxi. In his youth he formed the Wenchang Society with his elders Yuan Biao and others of his father's generation; later, after Nanjing, Hangzhou and other places fell to the Qing army, he joined the anti-Qing righteous army of eastern Zhejiang, and under the Tang Prince served as supervising censor. After the righteous army failed, he and another person went to Japan to seek aid. Unexpectedly, when the ship reached Nagasaki, the Japanese would not allow them to land. Jingdi every day wore his court robes and knelt at the bow of the ship weeping and bowing, and even sent a blood letter to the Japanese; he sought aid twice, but Japan did not send a single soldier or horse. After Feng Jingdi returned to China, he fortified a camp with his fellow townsman Wang Yi in the Siming Mountains, and the Prince of Lu appointed him Vice Minister of War. In the ninth month of the 11th year of Shunzhi (1654), the Qing army prepared to attack Zhoushan; to eliminate future trouble, the Qing army split into two routes and attacked Feng Jingdi's righteous army from both sides. At this time Feng was seriously ill and hiding on Quanting Mountain in Dalan; betrayed by a subordinate general, he was captured by the Qing army. Feng refused to surrender and died a heroic death. When the Qing army carried out the execution, one of his subordinates falsely claimed that Jingdi was his personal enemy and requested that one of Feng's arms be granted to him to avenge himself. Only thus did Feng Jingdi leave one arm to the world. After his death, his close friend Lu Yu performed a wild sacrifice in the open country for 7 days to express his grief. Later his friends buried his one arm together with Wang Yi's head and Dong Zhining's remains, known to the world as the "Tomb of the Three Loyalists", a cultural relic protection unit of Ningbo. 1. "Siming Congshu" second collection; 2. "Posthumous Writings of Vice Minister Feng"; 3. "Yihai Yishao"

"Lan Shi" (History of Orchids), 1 volume, by Qin Xizi, Ming dynasty. 1. "Siming Congshu" second collection; 2. "Posthumous Writings of Vice Minister Feng"; 3. "Yihai Yishao"

"Penwan Oulu" by Su Ling, Ming dynasty. Copy held by the Suzhou Library (formerly the Zheng Zhenduo collection)

"Yilan Zaji" by Bao Qiyun, early Qing. Bao Qiyun, courtesy name Weisheng, was a native of Shexian, Anhui. He was fond of orchids and skilled at chanting and composing; his family had a hall called Shutang. Below the hall he cultivated orchids, tending and protecting them diligently. His works such as "Facing Flowers, an Impromptu Composition", "Shutang Blooming, Record of Joy", and "Putting Forth Leaves and Blooming Again" are too numerous to mention one by one. When they slightly withered from cold, he said: I dare not blame heaven, I can only blame myself. He made question-and-answer pieces such as "Orchid Inquiry" and "Orchid Discourse".

"Lan Yan" (Orchid Words), 1 volume, by Mao Xiang, Qing dynasty. Mao Xiang (1611-1693), courtesy name Pijiang, style name Chaomin, also styled Puchao, was a native of Rugao, Jiangsu. Together with Fang Yizhi (courtesy name Mizhi), Hou Fangyu (courtesy name Chaozong), and Chen Zhenhui (courtesy name Dingsheng), he was known as one of the "Four Young Gentlemen of the Late Ming". Mao Xiang had outstanding talent from youth and enjoyed contemporary renown. Shi Kefa recommended him as supervising censor, and later he was specially appointed as Sili, but he declined both. After the fall of the Ming he had no intention of serving the world; by nature he loved guests, and his residence had such fine spots as Puchao, Shuihui Garden, and Shencui Mountain House, excelling in the scenery of ponds and pavilions, and famous men from all quarters were invited without a single empty day. In his later years he built the Nifeng Cottage, amusing himself with books and paintings. He left to the world "Shuihui Yuan Shiwen Ji", "Puchao Shiwen Ji", and "Yingmei An Yiyu", among others. 1. "Zhaodai Congshu" Kangxi edition, Daoguang edition, Jiaji vol. 6, lost; 2. "Rugao Maoshi Congshu"; 3. "Xiangyan Xiaopin"; 4. "Mao shi Xiaopin"

"Youxiang Liuying Ji" by Chen Qietao, after the Qianlong era of the Qing. Chen Qietao was a native of Guwu. Also called "Tao'an Pu Huitu" or "Qietao Hui Ce"

"Diyi Xiang Biji" (Notes on the First Fragrance), 4 volumes, by Zhu Kerou, Qing dynasty, Jiaqing era, 1796. Zhu Kerou, courtesy name Qiangfu, style name Yanyu, was a native of Jiaxing, a stipendiary student. He wrote "Zhu Qiangfu Ji". Handwritten copy of the 1st year of Jiaqing, Bingchen

"Lanhui Jing" (Mirror of Orchids and Hui Orchids), 1 volume, by Tu Yongning, Qing dynasty, Jiaqing era, 1811. Tu Yongning was a native of Jingxi (present-day Yixing), skilled in the art of medicine. The way of medicine comprises thirteen branches in all, and people regarded him as one facet of Mr. Jianzhai. In youth he studied under Zhou Yi, and in his spare time he paid attention to such elegant pursuits as mountains and waters, flowers, birds, insects, and fish, and was especially addicted to orchids, writing "Lanhui Jing" in 1 volume. "Yihai Yishao"

"Yilan Yaojue" (Essential Secrets of Orchid Cultivation), 1 volume, by Wu Chuanyun, Qing dynasty, 1811. Wu Chuanyun, courtesy name Shengzhi. A native of Yuanhe (present-day Hangzhou). "Yihai Yishao"

"Xinglan Pu Lüe" by Zhang Guangzhao, Qing dynasty, Jiaqing era, 1816. Handwritten copy

"Lanhui Tongxin Lu" by Xu Jilou, Qing dynasty, 1865. Xu Tong, courtesy name Dongsheng, was a native of Shilin Township, Xincheng, Xiushui. He had a seal reading "Born in the Jiawu year", which should be the 14th year of Daoguang (1834). He was skilled in poetry and painting, able to carve seals, and fond of collecting; his collection of epigraphy, literary works, and curios was the richest in the whole commandery. All his life he loved flowers and trees, and was especially fond of orchids and hui orchids; his painted orchids captured the spirit of the orchid and were esteemed by the world. He wrote "Yiyang Hua Hulu Shi Yincao" and "Lanhui Tongxin Lu". He had many alternate names, including Yunqin, Gengmei, Naihe, Jilou, Dingweng, Huashi, Huishi, Gongzhiming, Laoji, Shilin Houyin, Xiaopenglai Yinhua Yishi, Xiuzhou Luotuo Sheng, Meihua Yinke, Baoyi Laoren, Meihua Xiansou, Yu Daoren, and others. His studio names included Yinghua Ge, Meihua Jixiang Shi, Qi Ge, Jingfang Xianguan, Zilan Shuhui Shanfang, Qifen Xiaowu, Chunzai Xuan, Chunyu Hua Jiangnan Shi, Meihua Yin Guan, Shuhua Lou, and Yiyang Hua Hulu Shi, among others. It should be that before the 4th year of Tongzhi (1865), Xu Jilou had already begun compiling "Lanhui Tongxin Lu", and it was not until the 17th year of Guangxu (1891) that it was printed and issued by lithography. Lithographic edition of the 17th year of Guangxu, Xinmao

"Lan Yan Shulüe" by Yuan Shijun, Qing dynasty, 1876. Yuan Shijun, courtesy name Yijiang, was a native of Wumen. Yuan family block-printed edition of the 2nd year of Guangxu, Bingzi

"Lanhui Zhenzhuan" by Bai Zitang, 10th year of Guangxu, at dawn

"Yanglan Shuo" by Yue Liang, Qing dynasty, 1890

"Yanglan Shuo" by the Master of Jiusi Studio, Qing dynasty, 1907. Lead-type printed edition of the 33rd year of Guangxu, Dingwei

"Pinlan Shuo" by Shen Peilin, Qing dynasty. Shen Peilin was a native of Xiaoshan.

"Lanhui Zhenzhuan" by Shen Songlin. Handwritten copy by Shen Peilin

"Lanhui Tubu" by the Cheng family, Qing dynasty. The Cheng family were natives of Fengjing, Jiaxing.

"Xinglan Ji" by the Yun family, Qing dynasty. The Yun family, details unknown, were natives of Yixing.

"Yipu Congtan", 1 volume, by Jiguang, Qing dynasty. "Meishu Congshu" fourth collection, vol. 4

"Yilan Ji", 1 volume, by Wang Bi, Qing dynasty. "Yangsuxuan Conglu" third collection

"Fei Mengxian Lan Hua Pu" (Fei Mengxian's Orchid Painting Manual) by Fei Ying, Qing dynasty, Jiaqing era. Fei Ying, style name Mengxian, was a native of Wu (present-day Suzhou) during the Jiaqing era of the Qing. According to the record in "Pingzong Kai Ji", it is known that he was also skilled at painting cranes. Copy held by Yin Jishan of Taicang, Jiangsu (twenty-four frames)

"Yilan Ji" by Liu Wenqi, Qing dynasty. Liu Wenqi (1789-1854), courtesy name Mengzhan, was a native of Yizheng, Jiangsu. He was an outstanding tribute student in the Jimao year of Jiaqing, a candidate for assistant instructor. His father practiced medicine. His maternal uncle Ling Xiaolou loved his intelligence and taught him himself. Once slightly grown, he intensely studied ancient texts and mastered the classics thoroughly. In the works of Mao, Zheng, Jia, and Kong, and the various theories from Song and Yuan onward, he read broadly and searched deeply, seeking truth from facts. He devoted particular diligence to the "Zuo Commentary". He once said: "The meaning of Zuo has long been eroded by Du's commentary; what is somewhat worth reading mostly steals from old theories. So I compiled the book 'Zuo Zhuan Jiu Zhu Shuzheng', taking the commentaries of the three masters Jia, Fu, and Zheng, and clarifying and proving them. Whatever Du attacked, I correct; whatever he plagiarized, I expose; whatever follows Wei Zhao's words and commentary, I also mark one by one. As for the earlier masters' Old Text school theories cited in the 'Shuowen Wujing Yiyi', the theories of Liu Zijun recorded in the 'Han Shu Wuxing Zhi', and those cited in the classical commentaries, historical annotations, and the 'Yulan' and other books that quote the Zuo Commentary without giving a name but differ from Du's commentary, these are also all the old meanings of Jia and Fu; all such are collectively called old commentaries. And I add subcommentary. The supplementary commentaries of Gu and Hui down to the modern books devoted solely to explaining the Du clan, if there is anything worth adopting, are all included, and only at the end do I append my own opinion, deciding what to follow or reject; still further, I investigate broadly and examine widely, providing detailed evidence, striving to make the great meaning and subtle words of Zuo brightly manifest. The rough draft took forty years; though the long draft was complete, it was not yet written out in final form when he suddenly passed from the world. Only his differentiation and exposition of what Kong's subcommentary had taken from Liu Guangbo's exposition, separately made into a table, survives as 'Zuo Zhuan Jiu Shu Kaozheng' in 8 volumes. Also, based on the 'Shi Ji Qin Chu zhi ji Yue Biao', knowing that Xiang Yu once made Jiangdu his capital; examining the circumstances of the time, he inferred the traces of division and occupation, and wrote 'Chu Han Zhuhou Jiangyu Zhi' in 3 volumes. Based on the 'Zuo Zhuan', 'Wu Yue Chunqiu', 'Shui Jing Zhu' and other books, knowing that before the Tang and Song the terrain of Yangzhou was high in the south and low in the north, and the situation of the dividing canal was different, he wrote 'Yangzhou Shuidao Ji' in 4 volumes. There are also 'Dushu Suibi' in 20 volumes and 'Qingxi Jiuwu Ji' in 12 volumes, both handed down to the world. "Meishu Congshu" first collection, vol. 1

"Yilan Ji", one piece, by Luo Wenjun, Qing dynasty. Luo Wenjun was a native of Luocun, Nanhai, Guangdong. Known to the world as Mr. Luocun.

"Shu Hui Pian", 1 volume, by Fang Shixuan, Qing dynasty. "Miaoyuan Congshu"

"Lan Shuo" by Yang Ziming, Qing dynasty. Yang Ziming was a native of Jiangning.

"Yilan Si Shuo", 1 volume, by Du Wenlan, Qing dynasty. Du Wenlan (1815-1881), courtesy name Xiaofang, was a native of Xiushui, Zhejiang, and used the alternate sobriquet Master Xiangzhou. He rose to Jiangsu Provincial Administration Commissioner. He was fond of epigraphy, calligraphy, and painting, and his collection was extremely rich; he was skilled at ci poetry, good at clerical script, and also fond of growing orchids, and had "Yilan Si Shuo" engraved. When inspiration came he wielded his brush to paint ink orchids, which had considerable charm. He died in the 7th year of Guangxu. He wrote "Mantuo Luohua Ge Suoji", "Jiangnan Beida Ying Jishi Benmo", "Qiyuan Cihua", "Cilü Shiyi", and others; his compiled "Guyan Yan" is still being printed in modern times. His former residence was in Baozhong Fang in the city (present-day Xiexi Street), named Yi Garden, which formerly had fine flowers and trees. In July 1869, as a candidate circuit official, he acted as Shanghai Daotai. During his tenure he continued to reject the British merchants' demand to erect electric poles in Pudong. He also issued a notice requiring villagers to take care to protect the trees along Jing'an Temple Road. Soon he was transferred to Jiangsu as a circuit official and acted as Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner. He wrote "Pingding Yuekou Jilüe" and others. 1. "Mantuo Luohua Ge Congshu"; 2. "Qingren Shuo Hui" second collection

"Zhushi Lanhui Tubu" by the Zhu family, Qing dynasty

"Mingzhong Ce" by Zhou Yiting, Qing dynasty. "Dayipin", in the early Jiaqing era of the Qing, was grown by Hu Shaomei of Jiashan, and came out of a basket from Fuyang. At the Suzhou flower fair, everyone called it Dayipin, and so it was named. At the time the rich merchant Zhou Yiting offered three thousand gold to buy it, but was refused; the next year it still went to Zhou.

"Zhonglan Fa" by Zhou Heting, Qing dynasty

"Xinlan Ji" by Sun Shizhou, Qing dynasty. Sun Shizhou was a native of Shanghai.

"Zhonglan Fa" by Zhou Heting, Qing dynasty

"Lanhui Tubu" by the Huang family, Qing dynasty. The Huang family, details unknown, were natives of Yuyao.

"Caifang Suibi" by Zha Bin

"Wangzhe Xiang Ji" by Chen Yangeng, Qing dynasty. Chen Yangeng was a native of Jiashan.

"Lingnan Lan Yan" by Ou Jince, late Qing. Ou Jince was a native of Guangdong. He was a failed scholar who loved orchids all his life and in his later years wrote the book "Lingnan Lan Yan". Because of poverty and destitution, it could not be printed, and the manuscript was copied and circulated among orchid enthusiasts until 1981, when Ren Ziqing found several manuscript copies and corrected and annotated them; this was completed in 1985 and printed and issued by the Guangzhou Flower Association in 1986. Printed and issued by the Guangzhou Flower Association, 1986.

"Shuo Lan" by an anonymous author, Qing dynasty

"Shi Lan Shiyan" by Zheng Tongmei, late Qing. Zheng Tongmei was a native of Shuanglin, Gui'an (present-day Huzhou). Handwritten copy; original manuscript held by Yang Huaibai of Shanghai

"Yilan Hua Pu" by an unknown original author, late Qing or early Republic. Held by Pinshi Zhuren

"Yilan Mijue" by the Master of Qingfen Studio, Republic of China, 1920. The Master of Qingfen Studio, name unknown. Skilled at playing the flute, self-styled the Flower Fool. Content with a simple and quiet life, daily amusing himself only with poetry and wine, addicted to flowers, and especially so to orchids; he cultivated orchids for nearly twenty years and wrote the book "Yilan Mijue". Also called "Lanhua Zaipei Fa". Lead-type printed edition of the Guohua Book Company

"Lanhua" by Huang Yueyuan and Huang Delin, Republic of China. Huang Yueyuan (1880-1964), alternate name Shanqu Guansou, was a native of Fenghua, Zhejiang. At 7 he entered a private school, at 14 he became an apprentice in a grocery store in Xinchang, and later joined the Ninghai "Pingyang Society". In the 23rd year of Guangxu of the Qing (1897), members of the "Pingyang Society" were wanted by the authorities, and Huang fled to Jiangsu. In the 25th year of Guangxu he crossed to Japan and joined the Tongmenghui. Soon he returned to China and infiltrated the Qing government's Shanghai Water and Land Likin Bureau as chief inspector. In the 1st year of Xuantong (1909) he purchased more than 10 mu of land at Taoxi, Songbang, Zhenru, and operated the Zhenru Huang Family Livestock and Plant Farm, which the locals called "Huang Family Garden". During the Xinhai Revolution, he followed Chen Yingshi and served in the Shanghai Military Government. Afterward he abandoned politics and returned to the fields, devoting himself to studying horticulture, carefully operating "Huang Garden" in Zhenru with considerable achievements; he designed gardens for celebrities many times and won praise for "low cost and excellent scenery". Before the War of Resistance he held sizeable chrysanthemum shows more than ten times at the Huang Family Garden in Zhenru, repeatedly winning gold and silver medals and shield cups at home and abroad. At that time, every golden autumn, famous Shanghai painters and poets such as Yu Youren, Xie Xian'ou, Zheng Yimei, Yan Duhe, and Bao Tianxiao came to Huang Garden to admire the chrysanthemums, and taking inspiration, wielded brush and ink; the major and minor newspapers reported it one after another, and it became a much-told tale. When the War of Resistance against Japan broke out, the Huang Garden in Zhenru was forcibly occupied by the Japanese and puppet forces. Huang built a new Huang Garden in the French Concession. During the occupation, Mei Lanfang, who grew a beard to show his resolve, once briefly took refuge in the new Huang family garden. In the 1930s, he once competed with Japanese merchants and others to contract the renovation of Li Garden in Wuxi, and Huang Yueyuan won the bid with low price and high quality. Huang successively renovated and expanded gardens for such famous figures as Rong Desheng and Wu Kunsheng, greatly increasing his reputation, and was esteemed as a horticultural authority, serving as president of the Shanghai Flower and Tree Trade Association and executive director of the Shanghai Commercial Trade Association. Together with his son Delin he co-authored the book "Hua Jing", which was reprinted by the Shanghai Bookstore after Liberation. Huang Yueyuan was enthusiastic about public welfare and once initiated and took part in the dredging of Taopu and raised funds to establish Zhenru Middle School. After Liberation, Huang moved to Hong Kong, China, settled in Taiwan, China, and died of illness in the spring of 1964. His son was Huang Delin. Excerpted from "Hua Jing"

"Jiufeng Cailan Ji" by Wu Qingshi, Republic of China. Wu Qingshi (1882-1968), courtesy name Bojian, style names Kaicai, Baijian, Dinglou, Dongzhai. A native of Nancun, Panyu. He successively studied at Shimin School and the Liangguang Fangyan School, and later followed Sun Yat-sen and worked in the Ministry of Finance of the Grand Marshal's Office. Liao Zhongkai, then Minister of Finance, expressed satisfaction with his work and appreciated his literary talent. Wu Qingshi was enthusiastic about education and once advocated and established the Yuchang Primary School in his hometown of Nancun, encouraging the villagers to study. He successively served as education bureau chief in Xiangshan (present-day Zhongshan), Longmen, Bao'an, Gaoyao, Xinxing and other counties of Guangdong, and also served as secretary in Zhongshan and Xinxing counties. In May 1926, after leaving the Ministry of Finance of the Grand Marshal's Office, he served as general affairs director and lecturer in the liberal arts at Sun Yat-sen University, and had dealings with many scholars and poets. Wu Qingshi was erudite and meticulous in studying history, and wrote a great many works, totaling 28 titles including "Banfan Lou Shigao", "Jiufeng Cailan Ji", "Dinglou Shicao", "Panyu Yinyu Jie", "Dongzhai Zazhi", "Qijia Qianshuo", "Xiaojing Tonglun", "Jingxue Daoyan", "Ziran Lüeshuo", "Baitao Hua Guan Zayi", "Qiongman Xiaoji", "Louyi Tongsheng", "Panyu Weiye Zhi", "Nancun Caotang Biji", and others. He arranged the works of former worthies in more than 10 titles including "Wu Jia Chu Ji", "Gengyun Bieshu Shiji", "Lide Tang Shihua", "Shixue Yaoyan", "Da'an Suibi", "Biography of Mr. Wu Daoyuan", and "Zhiyao Yaoyi", and also wrote "Wu shi Benyuan Lu". He also selected his own and others' works into the "Banfan Lou Congshu", totaling 21 titles in 49 volumes, now held by the Guangdong Zhongshan Library and the Sun Yat-sen University Library. "Banfan Lou Congshu"

"Lanhui Xiaoshi" by Wu Enyuan and Tang Tuo, Republic of China, 1923. Wu Enyuan, courtesy name Chunbai, was a native of Hangzhou. He was a juren during the Guangxu era (187-1908). He was skilled in calligraphy and excelled at cursive and clerical script, refined in seal carving, addicted to orchid cultivation, cultivated many fine varieties, and was good at painting orchids. He died in 1931, aged about 60. Tang Tuo (1871-1938), original name Cheng Lie, courtesy name Ziquan, style name Quren. A native of Wujin, Jiangsu. Born on February 12, 1871. His father died when he was 5, and he and his siblings relied on their mother's laundry work to live. At 6 he entered a private school, and from youth studied the Tang-style regular script assiduously, creating a style of his own. In 1901, he transcribed for the Shanghai Chengzhong School the textbook "Zike Tushu" in 8 volumes, over 3000 characters written in regular script, clear and beautiful, and thereby became famous in Shanghai. Wenming Book Company and the Commercial Press competed to hire him at high salary to transcribe textbooks. Deeply feeling the backwardness of domestic printing, he went to Japan to study printing techniques for three years. In 1906, he co-founded the China Book Company with others; because of poor management, he was hired as deputy manager and straightened out its internal affairs. It gradually improved, but after a great fire destroyed it, he transferred to the Commercial Press to take charge of the selection and publication of rubbings, calligraphy, and painting albums. After Zhonghua Book Company was established, he was hired as deputy director of its printing office. All important business, such as local official money-office notes, exchange transaction certificates and securities, and the Buddhist scriptures and texts of Ai Li Garden, were personally negotiated by him, and he personally wrote contracts or letters. When Zhonghua Book Company's economy fell into difficulty, thanks to his painstaking management, the printing business developed rapidly and reversed the company's adverse situation. He started out by calligraphy and also wrote shop signs for the business world; the shop signs of Zhonghua Book Company, World Book Company, and Dadong Book Company were all in his hand. The Central Bank on banknotes and postage stamps also bore his hand. At the time his income was the highest in Shanghai. Within six years he wielded his brush for thirty thousand couplets. He once hired two or three people to grind ink, but grinding ink took time and effort, so he actually researched and made an ink-grinding machine. He once sold ten thousand couplets to establish a primary school in his hometown providing free schooling for poor students, and also built a Filial Son Shrine to commemorate his mother's grace. He died on July 14, 1938. He compiled "Lanhui Xiaoshi". Zhonghua Book Company typeset edition of the 12th year of the Republic, Guihai

"Dumen Yilan Ji" by Yu Zhao, Republic of China, 1929. Yu Zhao (1889-1959), courtesy name Feichang, alternate sobriquet Fei'an, also styled Xianren, Wenren, Lao Fei, was a native of Penglai, Shandong. He once taught at Beijing Normal School, North China University, Jinghua Fine Arts College, and Beiping Art College. After 1943 he served as a tutor at the Chinese Painting Research Institute attached to the Beiping Antiquities Exhibition Institute. After the founding of the People's Republic, he successively served as vice president of the Beijing Chinese Painting Research Association, researcher at the Ethnic Art Research Institute of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and vice president of the Beijing Chinese Painting Academy. He wrote "Research on the Colors of Chinese Painting", "How I Paint Gongbi Flower-and-Bird Painting", and there are "Selected Gongbi Flower-and-Bird Paintings of Yu Fei'an", "Dumen Diaoyu Ji", "Dumen Yiju Ji", "Dumen Yangge Ji", and others. "Chenbao Congkan"

"Lan Yan Si Zhong" by Yang Fuming, Republic of China, 1930. Yang Fuming, courtesy name Luming, style name Binshu, was a native of Jiangning. He was skilled in calligraphy and painting and in the authentication of cultural relics, refined in the guqin, and addicted to orchids. In the 1920s he served as director of the National Government's Antiquities Preservation Office. He learned the qin from Xia Yifeng and was on close terms with Yang Zhongzi, Xu Zhisun, and Wu Enyuan. From 1919 to 1924, he spent three years compiling the book "Lan Yan Si Zhong", which became the encyclopedia among orchid books. "Yingning Shi Congzhu"

"Xu Lanhui Tongxin Lu" by Feng Zicai, 1930. Feng Zicai was a native of Shangyu.

"Zhonglan Fa" by Xia Zhibin, Republic of China, 1930. Printed by the Commercial Press in 1930

"Wang Shuping Lanhui Tubu" by He Nailong and Liu Hanlin, 1948. He Nailong was a native of Shanghai. Liu Hanlin was a native of Shanghai.

"He Nailong Lan Hua Pu" by He Nailong. Copy held by Yin Jishan of Taicang, Jiangsu (twelve frames)

"Anonymous Lanhui Tubu", early Liberation period

"Zhong Lanhua" by Hong Yinglin, 1950. Printed and issued by Zhonghua Book Company, May 1950

"Fifty Years of Orchid Cultivation Experience" by Wang Shuping, 1955. Wang Shuping (1886-1965), given name Xiaoyou, childhood name Yangqing, went by his courtesy name in the world. He was born in the 2nd year of Guangxu of the Qing in Yaohu Yuan, Kaiyuan Township, Yuyao (present-day Mazhu Town). The Wang family was a prominent local clan; his ancestors had opened the Wang Sansheng medicinal materials firm in Hankou, and after making their fortune they widely purchased land in their hometown, becoming great rich of western Yao. Of the four Wang brothers, he was third; in youth he attended a private school in his hometown, and at 19 he dropped out of school due to lung disease. He began growing flowers and plants, and especially loved orchids. At most he had six large sheds and sixty or seventy flower stands, able to hold more than six hundred pots in all. He had more than 150 varieties including the famous Jinao Su, Taiyuan Mei, and Guanyao Mei. After middle age, as a social notable, he repaid society with his orchid virtue, keeping himself pure, being enthusiastic about public welfare, and making his own contribution. Mimeographed edition compiled by the Yuyao Lizhou Documentation Center

"Mr. Zhu Zhitong's Orchid Manual" by Zhu Zhitong, 1956. Zhu Zhitong was a native of Shanghai.

"Lanhua" by Yao Yuqiu and Zhu Youren, 1959. Yao Yuqiu (1920-1992), a famous horticulturist, worked at the Hangzhou Flower Garden. He also compiled the book "Juhua". Zhu Youren was a native of Tangdi Township (present-day Lishu Town), a cousin of Zhu Zhangfu, a senior figure in orchid cultivation in our country, and together with Wang Shuping of Yuyao and Shen Yuanru of Wuxi was known as an orchid expert. He was also received many times by Chairman Zhu De and other Party and state leaders; after Liberation he always grew orchids at the Hangzhou Garden Management Office. After Marshal Zhu first admired orchids in Hangzhou in 1953 and became acquainted with Zhu Youren, whenever Marshal Zhu came to Hangzhou he would seek out Zhu Youren amid his busy schedule to discuss orchid art, until the eve of the "Cultural Revolution". In 1956, Zhu Youren and others jointly wrote the book "Lanhua", and afterward he wrote "My Orchid Cultivation Life". These two monographs summarized the orchid cultivation experience passed down through generations by the Lishu orchid growers over a thousand years, opening a new chapter in which Lishu orchid growers began to write books and set forth theories. Printed by Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers, 1959

"My Orchid Cultivation Life" by Zhu Youren. Typewritten mimeographed edition of the Institute of Botany, Beijing Academy of Sciences

"Ju Shuo, Beijing Shuntian Yanglan Jingli Lüefa" by an unknown author. Lithographic edition held by Jin Shengxin of Shanghai

"Lanhui Tubu" by an unknown author, or said to be someone of the Qiao Family Bang in Shanghai. Original manuscript handwritten copy held by Jin Shengxin of Shanghai. The original manuscript had no title; this title was proposed by He Nailong.

"Peilan Yaozhe" by Jin Shishou, Republic of China

"Lanhui Shuo" by an anonymous author of Yuyao, Republic of China

"Xinglan Ji" by the Yun family, Republic of China

"Lanhua Pu" by Obara Eijiro, 1937. Obara Eijiro was a Japanese merchant. Around the War of Resistance against Japan, Obara Eijiro collected more than seventy famous orchid and hui orchid varieties in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang area of our country and took them away to cultivate, and drawing on our country's materials, compiled such monographs specially introducing our country's orchids as "Explanation of Orchids (with Cultivation Methods)", "Species and Cultivation of Orchids", "Essentials of Orchids and Hui Orchids", "Friend of Taste", and "Lanhua Pu". At that time he also established the "Lanhui Tongxin Hui", "Guoxiang Hui", and "Lanxiang" orchid-lover organizations to jointly study orchid cultivation. Chinese orchids won the admiration and affection of the broad masses of the Japanese people, and were esteemed as "scholars' orchids". Printed by Shokaido, 12th year of Showa

"Xiamen Lanpu" by Yan Chujiang, 1964. Yan Chujiang (1900-1978), a native of Fujian. He once served as professor in the Department of Biology of Zhongzheng University, and later taught in the Department of Biology of Xiamen University.

"Lanhua" by Shen Yuanru and Shen Yinchun, 1984. Shen Yuanru (1905-1979), a native of Wuxi, Jiangsu. Studio name "Master of the Thousand Orchid Chamber". From the age of 14 he engaged in orchid cultivation, and over his life selected and bred more than thirty orchid and hui orchid varieties, so he was praised by people as the "Orchid King of Jiangnan". His son was Shen Yinchun.

"Chinese Orchids" by Wu Yingxiang, first edition 1991, second edition 1993. Wu Yingxiang was born in 1915 in Shangju Town, Pingyuan County, Meizhou City. After graduating from high school in She'nao Village, he was admitted to Kunming Southwest Associated University, and because of family financial difficulties he worked while studying to complete his university courses. After graduation he entered the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and successively served as a researcher at the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and secretary of the botanical garden, achieving outstanding results in the fields of ornamental garden plants, garden research, and the introduction of tropical and subtropical plants, and also authored and translated a large number of authoritative works on plants and orchids. After retirement, Mr. Wu still devoted himself to orchid research and engaged in the compilation of the agriculture volume, ornamental horticulture volume, and biology volume of the Encyclopedia of China.