What is the flower language and symbolism of peonies?

The peony is praised by people as the “Flower Fairy” and the “Flower Minister”, and is listed as one of the “Six Great Famous Flowers”. It is also called the “Flower God of May”. Because it has been regarded as the flower of love since ancient times, it is now honored as the representative flower of Qixi Festival. Below, let us take a look at the flower language and legends of the peony.

The flower language of peonies

“Beautiful and charming”, “reluctant to part, hard to bear separation”. In ancient times, when men and women interacted, they gave peonies to each other to express a pledge of love or the sorrow of parting, so it was also called the “Plant of Parting”.

The legend of the peony

According to legend, both tree peonies and herbaceous peonies were not ordinary flowers. In a certain year, when there was a plague in the human world, the Jade Maiden or the Flower God stole the Queen Mother of the West's immortal elixir to save the people and scattered it over the world. As a result, some became woody tree peonies, and others became herbaceous peonies. To this day, the peony still carries the character “medicine”. Ha, the flowers, leaves, roots, and stems of tree peonies and herbaceous peonies can indeed be used as medicine. Danpi is especially famous, and Hangbaishao is even more a top-grade tonic for nourishing yin and replenishing blood [15].

There was also a similar legend in the ancient West, saying that Asclepius, a famous doctor in ancient Greece, had a clever student Paeon who surpassed his teacher, and even healed the wound of Hades, the god of the underworld. Out of jealousy, Asclepius killed young Paeon. Fortunately, Hades, in gratitude for his kindness, turned young Paeon into a healing flower, namely the peony. Westerners have also always believed that the peony possesses a certain magic. Wherever peonies grow, demons disappear without a trace, and they can even stand against a flower as poisonous as datura.