What are the latest poems describing orchids
Chinese people have always regarded orchids as a symbol of noble purity and elegance, and ranked them alongside “plum, bamboo and chrysanthemum”, collectively called the “Four Gentlemen”. “Orchid prose” is commonly used as a metaphor for the beauty of poetry and writing, and “orchid friendship” as a metaphor for true friendship. Orchids are also used to express pure love, as in “Breath like an orchid, never changing; heart like an orchid, never wavering”, and so on. Now let us take a look together at some poems about orchids!
Qing Dynasty poems describing orchids
"Folded Orchid Branch"
Qing · Zheng Banqiao
Painting spring breezes a lot is worth nothing; one branch of green jade, half a branch of beauty.
The morning sun in the mountains, the birds in the forest, carry out lovesickness in the second-month sky.
"Wonderful Fragrance at the Mountain Top"
Qing · Zheng Banqiao
Standing atop a thousand mountains, in deep cliffs and deep crevices the wonderful fragrance is thick.
It is not that there are no drifting clouds at its feet; coming, it does not know them; going, it does not keep them.
"Secluded Orchid of the High Mountains"
Qing · Zheng Banqiao
Through the ages this flower has been secluded and chaste; it seeks no fame, only mist and rosy clouds.
Lest the woodcutter find a way through, it takes a stretch of high mountain to screen it further.
"Inscribed on a Painting of an Orchid"
Qing · Zheng Banqiao
Standing atop a thousand mountains, in jutting rocks and deep crevices the wonderful fragrance is thick.
It is not that there are no drifting clouds clamoring at its feet; coming, it does not know them; going, it does not keep them.
"Extensive Compendium of Fragrant Plants"
Qing · Liu Hao
The orchid grows in a secluded valley unknown to anyone; a traveler planted it in the eastern pavilion and left me its fragrance.
I know it has a clear fragrance that can dispel foulness, and I love all the more its slender leaves that deftly brave the frost.
Its roots press close to dense stones, its autumn fragrance early; the clump leans on tall bamboo, cool in the midday shade.
I would give it together with wild lovage beneath the hall; before my eyes I constantly see the verses of Chu.
Ming Dynasty poems describing orchids
"Orchid"
Ming · Liu Bowen
The secluded orchid, in the empty mountains; a beauty loves it but cannot see it, so she splits white silk and paints it between the bright windows.
The secluded orchid, how luxuriant; the world is bedecked with it as adornment, I would stitch it into my girdle, yet slender and alone it stands, rejected by the crowd.
The secluded orchid, for whom does it bloom? Cold with dew and clear in the wind, its fragrance ages of itself.
"Lament of the Xiang Consorts"
Ming · Li Mengyang
Gathering orchids north of the Xiang, angelica on the banks; plucking wood by the southern shoals of the Li.
The clear water holds jade-like colors, the light breeze carries jade-like sounds.
Clouds rise in the evening over Cangwu, the sun sets in the shade of Dongting.
Who knows the bitterness of the bamboos; only the deep tear-stains are seen.
"Orchid"
Ming · Chen Ruyan
The orchid grows deep in the mountains, richly giving forth secluded fragrance.
By chance admired by the world, it is moved and placed in a high hall.
Rain and dew lose their proper season, the roots leave their native land.
Though it receives the power of care, it is nurtured in the wrong place.
In winter cold frost and snow fall; its green leaves may wither and be harmed.
How much better in the woods and ravines, where in season it is fragrant of itself.
"Drooping Orchid"
Ming · Li Rihua
Following the wind it does not hunt for fragrance, bending over the stream it pities its own shadow.
In the empty mountains spring lies scattered, half of it belonging to the wild woodcutter.
"Inscribed on a Painting of an Orchid"
Ming · Chen Xianzhang
On the shaded cliff a hundred grasses wither, yet orchids and thoroughworts have much life.
The gentleman dwells amid danger and ease, and so differs from ordinary people.
"Inscribed on a Scroll of Orchid and Bamboo"
Ming · Wen Peng
By chance I planted two or three orchids and thoroughworts; with warm days and light breezes they opened one after another.
Sitting long, I did not know the fragrance was in the hall; when I opened the window, butterflies came flying.
"Zi'ang's Orchid"
Ming · Shi Jian
The national fragrance has fallen, the girdle ornament empty; green fragrant grass merges with the old palace.
Who says someone wrote it with tears, having no ground to root in and resenting the east wind.
"Painting an Orchid"
Ming · Li Rihua
I regret that the secluded orchid insists on its own way, blooming without consulting me.
Touching it with the tip of my nose I am delighted; when I deliberately seek the fragrance, there is no fragrance.
"Wang Chuyu Paints an Orchid"
Ming · Chen Jiru
In recent years the empty valley has been half frosty wind; the lingering fragrance is left scattered among the grass.
I only fear the woodcutter will confuse orchid with mugwort, and the fair face be gathered into a bundle of firewood.
"Orchid"
Ming · Dong Qichang
In green clothes, lush and verdant, planted beside a stone; its lone root does not bloom together with the crowd.
When the wine is finished I unroll the scroll beneath the mountain window; gently the fragrance comes from the paper.
"Ink Orchid"
Ming · Xu Wei
Green water should only ripple with white duckweed; rouge is only meant to dot red lips.
Ever since I painted the Xiang orchid, I no longer idly inscribe for vulgar people.
Yuan Dynasty poems describing orchids
"Ode to the Orchid"
Yuan · Yu Tonglu
By hand I planted two or three orchid buds; with warm sun and gentle wind, day after day.
Sitting long, I did not know the fragrance was in the room; when I pushed the window open, butterflies came flying.
"Autumn Thoroughwort"
Yuan · Jie Si
The secluded clump is less than a foot tall; in the empty valley, for whom does it bloom?
One path of cold cloud color, a whole forest fragrant with autumn dew.
"Ink Orchid"
Yuan · Yuan Mei
Flying jade scatters heavenly blossoms, leaning beside the empty cliff.
Keeping to ink, it hides itself for a while, not sharing the green of other fragrances.
"Orchid"
Yuan · Zhang Yu
Weeping dew, its light is especially disordered; holding the wind, its shadow leans of itself.
How can vulgar people understand this: looking at the leaves is better than looking at the flowers.
"Ode to the Orchid"
Yuan · Yu Tonglu
By hand I planted two or three orchid buds; with warm sun and gentle wind, day after day.
Sitting long, I did not know the fragrance was in the room; when I pushed the window open, butterflies came flying.