What are the flower language and legends of the trailing phlox?

The trailing phlox, also known as throatwort, throatwort flower, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Trachelium in the family Campanulaceae. Because its style protrudes from densely clustered small flowers, the overall flower outline presents a hazy feeling, as if in fog, hence the name. It is native to Algeria, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Sicily and other places in the Mediterranean region. Now let us take a look at the flower language and legends of the trailing phlox!

The flower language of the trailing phlox

Passionate longing, deep devotion. If you want to tell the other person that you miss him or her very much, if you want to express your deep devotion to the other person, then you can give the trailing phlox to express the feelings in your heart, let the other person know his or her place in your heart, and tell the other person about your longing for him or her.

The value of the trailing phlox

1. Ornamental: The trailing phlox has a light and elegant fragrance, giving people a pure and beautiful feeling. It is now made by people into small and medium-sized flowers that can be grown in pots, and can also be used as a decorative plant in gardens to arrange flower beds, etc.

2. Cultural: The flower language of the trailing phlox is very beautiful, representing passionate longing and deep devotion. It can be wrapped into a beautiful bouquet and sent to the hands of a sweetheart, using this trailing phlox to entrust longing and convey affection.

3. Literary: The overall flower outline of the trailing phlox presents a hazy feeling, as if in fog, and it is increasingly used by young boys and girls as a symbol to describe youthful love.

The legend of the trailing phlox

Yugiri is one of the main characters in The Tale of Genji, the son of Genji and his lawful wife Aoi, and he rose to the office of Daijo Daijin. Not long after Yugiri was born, his mother passed away, and in his youth his father was also persecuted by political enemies, convicted, and exiled to Suma, so Yugiri lacked parental love in childhood. He and his cousin Kumoi no Kari were both raised by their grandmother.

The name Kumoi no Kari means a lone wild goose flying among the clouds. She is a very lovely little girl and the daughter of the Naidaijin (formerly the Head Chamberlain). Because her parents divorced due to incompatible feelings, and she was not accepted by her father's lawful wife, she was handed over by her father to her grandmother to raise. She and Yugiri could be said to have grown up together as childhood sweethearts, and their feelings were especially deep.

Unfortunately, happy days are always short. The matter of the two children was discovered by the Naidaijin. The Naidaijin had originally wanted to wait until Kumoi no Kari grew up and send her into the imperial palace to compete for the throne of Chugu, thereby increasing the power of his own family. At this point, in his disappointment and extreme anger, he blamed his mother for not properly educating the two grandchildren, and believed that marriage between cousins was dull and embarrassing, so he broke up this young couple, took Kumoi no Kari back home, and gradually became estranged from Yugiri.

In his sorrow, Yugiri made a promise with Kumoi no Kari that when he grew up he would certainly distinguish himself, would no longer let his uncle look down on him, and would then openly and honorably marry Kumoi no Kari. Genji felt pain for his son, and in his heart also blamed the Naidaijin for being unreasonable, so he began to cultivate Yugiri. He believed that under his grandmother's doting care, Yugiri could not become accomplished, so he took Yugiri back to the Rokujo estate and recognized Hanachirusato as his adoptive mother (Genji never allowed Yugiri to approach Murasaki no Ue throughout his life, to prevent Yugiri from repeating his own mistake with Fujitsubo).

Hanachirusato was very wise and open-minded, cared greatly for this adoptive son, and often guided him. Genji hired tutors to properly teach Yugiri history and culture as well as the various abilities needed for holding office and governing the world, and Yugiri also displayed his genius in these areas. Genji deliberately did not let Yugiri's official rank rise too early. When the children of his uncle's household all wore red robes, he still wore the green robe of the sixth rank, and he could only exchange letters secretly with Kumoi no Kari.

Six years passed, and Yugiri had grown into an adult. Whether in learning, etiquette, or appearance, he was far superior to people of the same age. He refused many marriage proposals, but at a festival he developed a strong liking for Koremitsu's daughter, the beautiful dancer Fuji no Naishi, and they corresponded with each other. On a day of the north wind, he accidentally witnessed Murasaki no Ue's peerless beauty and admired her endlessly, but even so he still could not forget his feelings for Kumoi no Kari.

After enduring various hardships, at a time when he was nearly in despair, Yugiri finally gained his uncle's recognition, and at the wisteria flower banquet, amid everyone's blessings, he married Kumoi no Kari as his wife. Afterward, Yugiri and Kumoi no Kari organized and repaired the house of his late grandmother, settled there, and began a calm and happy life.

Kumoi no Kari was lovely in appearance and very straightforward and sincere in personality. After marriage, she and Yugiri had eight children, and she was busy taking care of the children every day. Fuji no Naishi, who became Yugiri's concubine, had always been busy with work in the imperial palace, but she also had six children with Yugiri. Genji often laughed and sighed that he himself had very few children, yet his grandchildren were so numerous.

Afterward, Yugiri's good friend Kashiwagi died of illness, and Yugiri, entrusted by Kashiwagi on his deathbed, took care of his wife, the Second Princess. However, Yugiri suddenly fell in love with this ill-fated and pitiable princess, which greatly surprised and pained the straightforward Kumoi no Kari. After Yugiri insisted on marrying Kashiwagi's widow, Princess Ochiba, as his second wife, Kumoi no Kari took the children back to her natal home to show her dissatisfaction. Facing Yugiri's complaints when he came to bring her back, she loudly said, “I can no longer change my temperament to please you.”

The two, who had become husband and wife after a pure first love, although they encountered this kind of disagreement, in fact still could not leave each other. Yugiri described Kumoi no Kari as terrifying as a demon when angry. Her shrewishness and willfulness often left Yugiri helpless, but her cheerfulness and sincerity also made Yugiri truly love her. Yugiri said, “I will not leave her.”

Yugiri's appearance closely resembled that of his father Hikaru Genji, handsome and refined, and his talents were also outstanding. The difference was that his personality was relatively serious, and he was also serious about love, by no means as philandering and lustful as Genji. The love between Yugiri and Kumoi no Kari had a fairy-tale beginning, and after being tempered by worldly life, it became ordinary. But Yugiri and Kumoi no Kari were still the happiest couple in The Tale of Genji.