- Gordon Dumoulin
An early blossom, rushing for spring....
𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘮 this year at the Wuhan University. The campus is considered one of the most beautiful sites for cherry blossoms in China, usually in full bloom mid-March. But this year the trees already started to blossom last weekend, not being able to wait for a new spring 😊
𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗺 is not the first blossom in China though. Plum blossom starts late January, early February in central China, and even early January in southern parts.
𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗺 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗺 (梅花, Mei hua) is one of the most beloved flowers in China and has been frequently depicted in Chinese art and poetry since centuries, blooming most vibrantly amidst the winter snow with ethereal elegance. The plum blossom is seen as a symbol of winter and a harbinger of spring, expressing 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
The plum blossom is regarded as one of the "𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧" ( 岁寒三友), along with pine and bamboo. The flower is also one of the "𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣" (四君子) plants in Chinese art and poetry together with the orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo.
岁寒三友 "three friends of winter"
四君子 "four gentlemen"
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Plum Blossom
"inner beauty and humble display under adverse conditions"