What spirit and qualities does the plum blossom symbolize?
The plum blossom is native to southern China and has a cultivation history of more than three thousand years. Together with the orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, it is known as one of the “Four Gentlemen,” and together with the pine and bamboo, it is known as one of the “Three Friends of Winter.” With its qualities of purity, strength, and humility, it inspires people to strive with determination. It blooms first among all flowers in the bitter cold, bringing spring to the world alone. Now let us take a look at the spirit and qualities of the plum blossom!
What does the plum blossom symbolize?
The plum blossom symbolizes purity, a proud and unyielding character, fearlessness of bitter cold, strength, beauty, and people who are poor yet virtuous. With its qualities of unwavering fidelity, purity, strength, and humility, it inspires people to strive with determination. It blooms first among all flowers in the bitter cold, bringing spring to the world alone. Therefore, the plum is often used in folk tradition as an auspicious symbol of announcing spring and bringing good news.
What qualities does the plum blossom have?
The plum blossom fears neither wind nor snow, is steadfast and unyielding, tenacious and persistent, indomitable, defies frost and snow, and never yields. It is used in folk tradition as an auspicious symbol of announcing spring and bringing good news, and is one of the Three Friends of Winter. Since ancient times, people have praised its spirit of defying the snow, its solitary purity in not competing with the hundred flowers for spring. Its natural root nature is distinct, and all things find it hard to match. Because of the lines “A thousand flowers dare to emerge in the snow, a single tree alone heralds spring to the world,” it is hailed as the chief of flowers. The noble character and steadfast integrity of “From afar I know it is not snow, for only a subtle fragrance comes drifting” symbolize the spirit of us, the descendants of the dragon. The lines “Wind and rain escort spring home, flying snow welcomes spring's arrival. Already on the cliff a hundred zhang of ice, yet still a lovely branch blooms. Lovely, yet it does not vie for spring, only bringing news of spring. When the mountain flowers bloom in profusion, she smiles among them” symbolize the qualities of tenacity, indomitability, courage to take the lead, and unremitting self-improvement. Its character and integrity have almost captured in freehand the spiritual image of the “descendants of the dragon.”
What spirit does the plum blossom have?
1. The ancients said the plum possesses four virtues: when the bud first forms it is yuan, when it blooms it is heng, when it bears fruit it is li, and when it ripens it is zhen. Later people also said that the five petals of the plum blossom are the symbol of the five blessings: the first is happiness, the second is blessing, the third is longevity, the fourth is smoothness, and the fifth is peace, which we most desire. The five petals respectively symbolize happiness, blessing, longevity, smoothness, and peace.
2. The plum is often used in folk tradition as an auspicious symbol of announcing spring and bringing good news. Chen Zhisui's micro-poem “Plum Blossom” writes: “In order to make those who struggle against the bitter cold persevere, it reveals the news of spring to people.” It is also one of the Three Friends of Winter and the first of the Four Gentlemen among flowers. Since ancient times, people have praised its spirit of defying the snow and its solitary purity in not competing with the hundred flowers for spring.
3. The plum blossom is a spiritual symbol of the Chinese nation, with a powerful and universal appeal and driving force, symbolizing the spirit of tenacity, indomitability, courage to take the lead, and unremitting self-improvement. Folk legend says that other flowers bloom only in spring, but the plum is different: the colder it gets, the more the wind bullies and the snow presses, the more spirited and elegant its blossoms become. For several thousand years, the noble qualities and steadfast integrity of the plum blossom, blooming brightly in the snow, sending fragrance in the cold, with iron bones and an icy heart, have encouraged generation after generation of Chinese people to brave dangers and hardships, forge ahead courageously, and create an excellent life and civilization.
Beautiful sentences describing the plum blossom
1. In appearance, the plum blossom is not outstanding; what makes it up is merely five plain pink petals, and yet it is these plain flowers that give me an unusual feeling. In fragrance, the plum blossom has a faint scent; after smelling it, one feels full of energy all day, and if you smell it in the early morning, you will feel refreshed and happy all day.
2. Stepping into the garden, in the biting cold wind, I saw a large expanse of plum blossoms proudly in full bloom. On the branches, those small white flowers vied in the cold, adding a touch of vitality to this harsh winter. The plum branches are slender and varied in form, graceful and charming. Little bell-like flowers dotted the branches with luster, from time to time attracting the eyes of visitors and drawing bursts of admiration.
3. The plum blossom is the most extraordinary and refined flower. Some are small and exquisite, charmingly naive; some are graceful and slender, shy and bashful; some are dignified and generous, fully beautiful…… Together with the plum blossom's peculiar fragrance, it is truly endearing.
4. The plum blossom is the most tenacious flower. “The edge of a sword comes from grinding, and the fragrance of plum blossom comes from bitter cold.” In the deep winter, the plum blossom braves frost and fights snow, fearing neither freezing weather nor the assault of ice and snow. When other flowers wither and scatter, their blossoms ruined and leaves decayed, the plum blossom still holds its head high and blooms in full glory, standing out uniquely and proudly in this icy, snowy world. Even in bitter cold of more than twenty degrees below zero, it can still “sparse shadows slant across the shallow, clear water; a subtle fragrance floats in the dusk of the moon,” laughing proudly at heaven and earth.
5. “In the ice and snow forest it places itself, not mingling with peach and plum in the dust of fragrance.” She is not as gorgeous as the rose, yet she can stand proudly in wind and snow; she is not as fragrant as the jasmine, yet she can bloom in the bitter cold. She is the plum blossom——that extraordinary and refined plum blossom!
6. The plum blossom, a flower that blooms facing the cold wind. It does not have the gorgeousness of the Chinese rose, nor the rich red and purple of the peony, nor the elegant simplicity of the orchid, nor the nobility of the lotus…… But it possesses the spirit of fearing no cold, walking alone in early spring, and standing proudly in the snow, symbolizing a resolute spirit and noble character. “A few branches of plum by the corner of the wall, blooming alone in the cold.” This further expresses the plum blossom's unyielding spirit and character.
7. The plum blossom is the most selfless flower. It is content with solitude and indifferent to fame and gain. The plum blossom also has times when it is blown askew by the biting cold wind, swaying left and right. At such times, it always silently endures, never crying out about injustice, never complaining of grievance. It is not vexed at missing the beautiful spring; not dejected at having no butterflies to dance with it; not lost at lacking companions. It does not learn from the delicate peach blossom that follows the flowing water, nor compare itself to the frivolous willow catkins flying all over the sky. It simply blooms in the human world without complaint or regret, striving to adorn the silvery white world. The plum blossom leaves spring to others and keeps this unbearable immense cold for itself.
8. “Already on the cliff a hundred zhang of ice, yet still a lovely branch blooms.” In the depths of winter, when the hundred flowers wither, only the plum blossom still blooms proudly alone amid the ice and snow, which cannot but make us marvel. I bent down and gently stroked the plum blossom with a pair of cold little hands, carefully savouring the noble quality of the plum blossom in fearing no bitter cold.
9. “The fragrance of plum blossom comes from bitter cold.” What blows upon the plum blossom is the biting cold wind; what shines upon the plum blossom is the lingering sun of deep winter; what nourishes the plum blossom is the rain and dew of remnant snow. Yet the plum blossom standing atop the mountain is so fragrant and rich, dignified and elegant. It can still compare in beauty with other flowers in the greenhouse, and is not inferior to them at all, is it?
10. The plum blossom blooms proudly in full glory. One after another, the colourful little flowers are white as snow, red as fire, yellow as gold, pink as rosy clouds…… dancing gracefully in the cold wind, with icy heart and jade bones. On closer smelling, a fragrance cannot help but rush toward you, waves of sweet scent, elegant and fresh, suddenly making one feel refreshed and happy……
11. The plum blossom is not only the earliest flower to bloom; its gorgeous colours are also unmatched by other flowers. When the earth enters late autumn, especially in the harsh winter, it stands alone in beauty. The flowers have all bent their waists and lowered their heads, yet on the branches not long after the leaves fell, buds sprouted. In the harsh winter, in frost and snow, one can still see the plum blossom's tenacious figure, fighting with rain and snow.
12. The plum blossom cannot match the peony's national beauty and heavenly fragrance, the Chinese rose's delicate and ostentatious splendour, the rose's brilliant purples and reds, or the lotus's noble elegance. But I prefer this plum blossom that defies frost and scorns snow.
13. The plum blossom never contends with the hundred flowers for the bright spring, nor does it ever show off its beauty. The plum blossom has a proud bone, yet is never arrogant or self-important. Every early morning in the harsh winter, a uniquely charming, clear and elegantly quiet fragrance drifts in from outside the window. The plum blossom is praised by ancient and modern poets and painters not only for its elegant and refined demeanour, but also, for its jade-like flesh and icy bones and its lingering fragrance in the cold, it is regarded as the essence of the nation and valued by the world. With its qualities of purity, strength, and humility, the plum blossom inspires people to strive with determination.
14. The plum blossom's flowers are not large, like shy young girls one after another, with the few remaining green leaves setting off the plum blossoms. Perhaps to let the flowers bloom better, the green leaves all dedicated to the plum blossom every bit of nutrition they should have had. Although the plum blossom is called China's national flower, it is not ostentatious. It merely blooms silently in the cold wind, quietly displaying its elegance in the cold wind. The suffering it has endured, only it itself knows.
15. The colour of the plum blossom is gorgeous yet not seductive. The fragrance of the plum blossom is clear and quietly elegant. The posture of the plum blossom is ancient yet delicate. Is this not exactly like our construction workers? Regardless of bitter cold or scorching heat, regardless of wind or rain, regardless of freezing weather, they all work conscientiously at their posts. I want to learn from the plum blossom; I want to be a person like the plum blossom.