The Language of Rose Flowers and Legendary Stories Explained in Detail

Most roses are world-famous ornamental plants, widely distributed across the cold temperate to subtropical regions of Asia, Europe, North Africa and North America. After China introduced roses in the 18th to 19th centuries, they were crossed and repeatedly backcrossed with existing varieties, producing cultivars such as China rose, tea rose, wild rose and rugosa rose, among others. Now let us take a look at the language and legends of roses!

The Language of Rose Flowers

Beautiful love, the yearning of love. In China, the rose represents love, and people love to use roses in flower baskets to heighten a joyous atmosphere. When distinguished guests visit, presenting a bouquet of red roses expresses a warm welcome. When young men and women exchange red roses, it signifies first love. For marriages, presenting red or pink roses expresses blessings for the newlyweds' happy marriage, happiness and good fortune. During festivals, people exchange brightly coloured roses to express festive blessings.

The Symbolism of Rose Flowers

Many ancient civilizations around the world regard the rose as a symbol of truth, goodness and beauty. In Europe, giving a single rose expresses a declaration of love. In France, red roses mean “I am madly in love with you”, while white roses mean love is quietly budding. Iran has designated the rose as its national flower. The United Kingdom has designated the rose as its national flower, but does not clearly distinguish between rose, China rose and multiflora rose; all three are equally cherished, and red roses, like roses, are used as Valentine's Day flowers.

The Legend of the Rose Flower

Legend has it that long ago, at the foot of Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang, there lived a family. The daughter was named Qiangwei (Rose). Her father had died early, and she and her mother depended on each other, living a hard life. A neighbour's young man named Akang was kind-hearted and eager to help others. He often helped Qiangwei gather firewood and carry water. As days turned into years, the two fell in love and secretly pledged themselves to each other for life.

One year, the emperor issued a decree to select beautiful women for the palace, and Qiangwei was chosen. When the girl learned of this, she immediately fainted. The officials pressured her, insisting on taking her to the capital. Her mother begged bitterly, and only then did they agree to postpone it for two days. The kind-hearted villagers secretly told Qiangwei to hide deep in the mountains, and if the authorities came looking for her, to say she had died of a sudden illness.

However, word leaked out, and a greedy person informed the authorities. The county magistrate reported to the imperial court, and the emperor was furious, ordering a pursuit: bring her back alive, or bring her corpse if dead. Akang and Qiangwei fled together into the deep mountains, but how could they outrun mounted pursuers on foot? Hearing the hoofbeats drawing near, and to avoid implicating Akang, Qiangwei resolutely threw herself off a sheer cliff. Akang was overcome with grief and jumped down after her. The pursuers searched and found two bodies at the foot of the cliff, and transported them back to the capital.

When the emperor saw the bodies, he was both angry and hateful. He ordered people to pour oil and burn the bodies, but after burning for a full day and night, the bodies remained unchanged in complexion, completely intact. He then ordered people to raise swords and dismember the bodies, but the steel blades could not cut through. The emperor, in a rage born of humiliation, ordered the bodies thrown into the sea, but the bodies would not sink. At this point, voices of complaint arose throughout the court, condemning the emperor's cruelty. The emperor dared not continue his evil deeds, and ordered the bodies retrieved and buried together at the foot of Tianmu Mountain.

Before long, a beautiful flower grew on that new grave, with many thorns on its stem. People all said this flower was the transformation of the maiden Qiangwei, and the thorns were grown by Akang to protect Qiangwei, hence the name “Qiangwei” (Rose).

Complete Guide to Rose Flower Language

1. Red rose: passionate love. The red flowers give a feeling of warmth and boldness. The language of the red rose is passionate love, suitable for use when declaring love, and an excellent gift for first-time lovers.

2. Pink rose: vow of love, holding your hand, growing old together. The pink rose exudes a romantic air, representing "I want to spend my whole life with you" and "I want to marry you", suitable for use when proposing.

3. White rose: pure love. White is the purest, most flawless colour, and the white rose represents pure love.

4. Yellow rose: eternal smile. Yellow is a warm colour, and the yellow rose can soothe a restless heart, representing an eternal smile and forever guarding you.

4. Dark red rose: I only want to be with you. The dark red rose gives a feeling of firmness and certainty, and its flower language is "I only want to be with you" and "I only want to know you alone".

5. Wild rose: romantic love, repentance. Cultivated roses do not bear fruit, but wild roses grow delicate, vivid red fruit. Besides being able to rival other roses in appearance, the fruit is also edible. This flower has a poet's temperament, so its flower language is romance.

6. Christmas rose: love in remembrance. The flower language of the Christmas rose is love in remembrance, expressing nostalgia for a lost love. If you want to win back a partner you have broken up with, you might consider sending a bouquet of Christmas roses.

7. Black rose: gorgeous love. Black is the most mysterious colour. The black rose represents gorgeous love, desperate love, hatred, curses, "you are mine", expressing obsession and extremism in love. This is where love is most magnificent.

8. Rock rose: rejection. The rock rose is a herb that herbivorous animals deliberately avoid eating, mainly because its sap is toxic, and even slight contact causes skin redness and swelling. Therefore, the flower language of the rock rose is —— rejection.

9. Blue rose: despair. Blue is the colour of melancholy. Looking at a blue rose, one can also feel an indescribable sorrow. The blue rose represents despair.

10. Purple rose: imprisoned love. The purple of the purple rose symbolises love that cannot be obtained. If you love her, express it loudly and let the world witness it for us, but the purple rose is like a prison, making it impossible for love to be expressed.