Luoyang Peony Story Translated by Ouyang Xiu

Ouyang Xiu's Luoyang Peony Story was written in the first year of Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty (1034). It was the first China treatise on peonies and a typical explanatory text in ancient times. It was highly scientific and literary. Ouyang Xiu had been an official in Luoyang for many years, so he knew the situation of the local peonies very well, which laid the foundation for him to write Luoyang Peony Story. The article is divided into four parts: Preface to Flowers (1), Explanation of Flowers (2), Records of Folkways (3), and Postscript of Peony (3). The structure is rigorous and the language is fluent and easy to understand. In terms of expression methods, it was mainly based on explanation, combining narration, description, examination, refutation and other techniques. The style of writing was simple and natural, and it had a certain status in the history of China prose. Luoyang Peony Record was originally included in the 22nd volume of Jushi Outer Collection. Later, it was hand-written and carved by Cai Xiang of Song Dynasty. It was preserved in Ou and Cai families as a single copy. Later, it was engraved as a single copy and widely circulated. Now it is the copy of Siku Quanshu. Among them,"The First Preface of Flower Quality" mentioned that there were many origins of peonies, such as Danzhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Yuezhou, etc., but Luoyang peonies were the best in the world. Luoyang people loved peonies very much. They called peonies "flowers" directly, while other flowers such as yellow peony and red peach were called fruit flowers. At the same time, it also recorded Ouyang Xiu's thoughts and analysis of Luoyang's peonies being the best in the world. "Hua Shi Ming II" explained the basis for the naming of peonies, such as the name of the family, state, land, color, or its special characteristics. "Fairy Dream of Tang Shi: Fate of Peony" is equally wonderful. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!

Luoyang peony was a specialty of Luoyang, Henan Province, China. It was a product of China's national geographical indication. Its cultivation history began in the Sui Dynasty. At that time, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty built Luoyang, the eastern capital, and issued an edict to the world to pay tribute to flowers. Yizhou paid tribute to 20 boxes of peonies, making Luoyang the earliest peony cultivation center in China history. During the Tang Dynasty, peonies were cultivated throughout the palace and among the people. The variety of flowers increased, developing into red, purple, yellow, white, light red and other colors, and there were double and semi-double flower types. In the Song Dynasty, Luoyang became the center of peony cultivation again. At that time, Luoyang peonies had three major characteristics: first, loving peonies, planting peonies, and appreciating peonies became popular among the people, and there was a saying that "Luoyang peonies were the best in the world"; second, cultivation was widespread, and the skills were improved. New species appeared one after another, such as famous varieties such as Yao Huang and Wei Zi. Cultivation techniques reached a new height, and there were many experts in planting and cutting flowers preservation techniques among the people. Third, many works about peonies appeared. There are many varieties of Luoyang peonies, including red, white, pink, yellow, purple, blue, green, black and compound colors, and 10 flower types. The main varieties are Dahuhong, Mosajin, Zhuangyuanhong, beanlu, etc. Its flowers were huge and its colors were unique. It was known as the "national beauty" and was a symbol of wealth, luck, and beauty. It was also regarded as a representative of peace, prosperity, and romantic characters. Modern Luoyang peonies were not only popular in China, but also spread to Italy, Germany, France, Japan, the United States, the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and many other countries. In addition to being used for viewing, it was widely planted in special gardens, scenic spots, courtyards, streets and other places. It could also be used as food raw materials. There were three categories of peony food, peony cultural element food and peony health food. In addition, Luoyang also had a traditional gourmet peony cake, which was made with bean powder and rice as the main raw materials, and peas, red beans, red dates, peony sauce, etc. as auxiliary materials. The Luoyang Peony Culture Festival was formerly known as the Luoyang Peony Flower Festival. It began in the Sui Dynasty and had a history of more than 1600 years. In November 2010, it was upgraded to a national festival and renamed "China Luoyang Peony Culture Festival". It was a large-scale comprehensive economic and cultural activity that integrated flower viewing, tourism, economic and trade cooperation and exchanges. "Fairy Dream of Tang Shi: Fate of Peony" is equally wonderful. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!

There were both legends and facts about the origins of Luoyang Peonies. From the perspective of legends, there was such a story. Every year on the third day of March, it was the Queen Mother's Christmas. When the immortals attended the Peach Banquet, Chang'e suggested to the Queen Mother that the Flower Fairy let a hundred flowers bloom to help the wine. The Flower Fairy refused on the grounds that the flowers bloomed sometimes and the Jade Emperor strictly controlled them. Old Lady Feng and Flower Fairy had a conflict, so she took the opportunity to sow discord between Flower Fairy and Chang'e. Later, Magu tried to smooth things over and suggested that if there was really a mortal emperor who made the flowers bloom, she would punish the Flower Fairy to clean the Guanghan Palace for three years. Flower Fairy said that the emperor of the mortal world would not give such an absurd order. If she really ordered a hundred flowers to bloom, she would rather fall into the mortal world. Later, this matter was related to Wu Zetian. One winter, when Wu Zetian was drunk, she asked the God of Flowers to urge the flowers to bloom. After the flowers bloomed, only the peonies refused to bloom. The Empress was angry and banished them to the west of Luoyang. It was even rumored that Wu Zetian ordered to burn the peonies, but the peonies did not die out after three days of fire. They came back to life two months later, with burnt marks on their stems. This story was compiled by Li Ruzhen of the Qing Dynasty into "Mirror Flower Affinity". From the actual situation, peonies originated from the Qinling Mountains and Daba Mountains in China. After continuous artificial selection and cultivation, the shape of the flowers changed greatly. As the climate and soil of Luoyang were most suitable for the growth of peonies, peonies were widely planted and developed in Luoyang. Luoyang's climate was a continental climate with moderate heat, rich water resources, deep soil, and fertile soil, which were conducive to the growth of peonies. The cultivation of peonies in Luoyang had a long history, starting from the Sui Dynasty. After development, it had now become a specialty of Luoyang, Henan Province, China, and a national geographical indication product of China. " Fairy Dream of Tang Shi: Fate of Peony " is equally wonderful. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!

Luoyang Peony Story was an article written by Ouyang Xiu in the first year of Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty (1034). It was the first peony treatise in China, which was both scientific and literary. Ouyang Xiu was once an official in Xijing (now Luoyang, Henan Province). He was very familiar with the flowers, names, local customs and planting techniques of peony in Luoyang, which laid the foundation for writing this article. The content was divided into four parts: "Preface to Flowers","Second Flower Explanation","Third Folk Record" and "Postscript of Peony Story". Each part was written separately and was related to each other. The structure was rigorous and the language was fluent. The style of writing was simple and natural. It had a certain status in the history of China prose. Originally, it was included in the twenty-second volume of Jushi Outer Collection, which contained preface, explanation, record and postscript. Later, it was hand-written and carved by Cai Xiang and kept in Ou and Cai families. Later, it was engraved as a single edition and widely circulated. There was a copy of Siku Quanshu. There was also Luoyang Peony (Thirteen Other Species) published by Shanghai Bookstore Press in 2017. It was jointly compiled by Ouyang Xiu, Gu Hongyi, and Wang Yun. It included Luoyang Peony and the other thirteen Song Dynasty related works to provide information on flower culture. "Fairy Dream of Tang Shi: Fate of Peony" is equally wonderful. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!

The story of Peony being banished to Luoyang contained rich cultural meaning and profound enlightenment. From a cultural perspective, this story reflected the unique status of peonies in China culture. Peonies were endowed with iron bones and unyielding integrity in legends. They dared to defy Wu Zetian's will and adhere to the natural law of flowers blooming. This made peonies not only an ornamental flower, but also a spiritual symbol. This symbolic meaning was integrated into the blood of the Chinese culture and became a part of the Chinese national spirit. It represented the noble quality of perseverance and not succumbing to power. From the relationship between history and legend, although this legend was derived from the historical figure Wu Zetian, it also reflected the views of people at that time on Wu Zetian's rule. As the empress of a generation, Wu Zetian's ruling methods were tough, and the plot of Peony's resistance to the imperial edict might be a way for the people to express their attitude towards power through fairy tales. At the same time, this legend also reflected the reverence of ancient society for the laws of nature. The Peony Fairy said that violating the weather would bring disaster, implying the respect of the ancients for the laws of nature. On the aesthetic level, this story added more layers to the beauty of peonies. Luoyang peonies were the best in the world. Their beauty was not only beautiful and elegant on the outside, but also the legendary color behind them. The charred bone peony in the story was as red as fire. Its existence made people see the beauty of rebirth after experiencing pain, making the beauty of the peony even more touching. In general, the story of the peony being banished to Luoyang was a pearl in the treasure house of China culture. It was a legend full of fantasy colors, combining historical, cultural, aesthetic and other elements, making the peony a flower with a deep cultural heritage. After thousands of years, it still exuded a charming charm. " Fairy Dream of Tang Shi: Fate of Peony " is equally wonderful. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!

Luoyang peony was a specialty of Luoyang, Henan Province, China. It was a product of China's national geographical indication. It was produced on the south bank of the middle reaches of the Yellow River. It was mostly hills and mountains. It had a continental climate with moderate heat and water resources. The soil was deep and fertile. Luoyang had a long history of peony cultivation. It began in the Sui Dynasty, flourished in the Tang Dynasty, and was famous in the Song Dynasty. Now, not only was it popular in China, but it had also spread to Italy, Germany, France, Japan, and other countries. There were more than 1400 varieties, including 9 color systems and 10 flower types. The main varieties included Dahu Red, Ink Gold, Zhuangyuan Red, Bean Green, etc. The flowers were huge and beautiful. They were commonly planted in special gardens, scenic spots, courtyards, streets, and other places. It can be used as food raw material, and its products include peony component food, peony cultural element food, and peony health food. In 1982, it was designated as the flower of Luoyang City. Every year, from April 15 to 25, the Luoyang Peony Festival was held. Luoyang peonies were deeply loved by ancient literati. There were many poems praising them, such as Ouyang Xiu's "Luoyang Peony Record","Luoyang Peony Painting", Shao Yong's "Luoyang Spring Song", etc. They also symbolized peace, prosperity, and romantic characters. In 2006, it was included in the "First List of Henan Province's Intangible Cultural Heritage". In 2021, the geographical indication certification trademark of "Luoyang Peony" was approved and registered. "Fairy Dream of Tang Shi: Fate of Peony" is equally wonderful. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!

Luoyang peony was a specialty of Luoyang, Henan Province, China. It was a product of China's national geographical indication. It was mostly produced in hills and mountainous areas, located on the south bank of the middle reaches of the Yellow River. It had a continental climate with good heat and water resources, deep soil and fertile soil. Luoyang's peony cultivation had a long history, which could be traced back to the Sui Dynasty. It reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty and became famous during the Song Dynasty. It was not only popular in China, but also spread to Italy, Germany, France, Japan and many other countries. It had a rich variety, with 9 major colors (red, white, pink, yellow, purple, blue, green, black, and compound color), 10 flower types, and more than 1400 varieties. The main varieties were Dahu Red, Ink Sajin, Zhuangyuan Red, Bean Green, etc. Its flowers were large and beautiful, and were widely planted in special gardens, scenic spots, courtyards, streets, and other places. Luoyang's peony culture was profound and deeply loved by ancient literati. There were many poems praising it, such as Ouyang Xiu's "Luoyang Peony Record","Luoyang Peony Painting", Shao Yong's "Luoyang Spring Song", etc. It symbolized peace and prosperity, and was known as the "King of Flowers". Luoyang was also known as the "Millennium Capital, Peony City". In addition, Luoyang peony can also be used as food raw materials. There are three types of peony ingredients, peony cultural elements, and peony health food. In 1982, Luoyang designated the peony as the city flower, and held the Luoyang Peony Flower Festival from April 15 to 25 every year. The predecessor of the flower festival, Luoyang Peony Flower Festival, began in the Sui Dynasty and had a history of more than 1600 years. In November 2010, it was upgraded to the China Luoyang Peony Culture Festival. It was a large-scale comprehensive economic and cultural activity that integrated flower viewing, tourism, economic and trade cooperation and exchanges. In 2006, Luoyang Peony was included in the First List of Henan Province Intangible Cultural Heritage, and in 2021, the geographical indication certification trademark of "Luoyang Peony" was approved and registered. "Fairy Dream of Tang Shi: Fate of Peony" is equally wonderful. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!

"Luoyang Peony Record" believes that peonies come from Danzhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou in the east and Yuezhou in the south, but those from Luoyang are the first in the world. It went through the following development process: - In the first year of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty (605), peonies were introduced into Luoyang, and the history of Luoyang peony cultivation began for more than 1400 years. - During the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian proclaimed himself emperor and took Luoyang as the divine capital. He transplanted peonies from all over the world to Luoyang and often led officials to visit the garden to admire the flowers, making Luoyang's peony cultivation enter a prosperous period. At that time, there was a gardener named Song Danfu who could grow thousands of peonies of different colors and was praised as a flower master. Many Tang Dynasty poets also wrote poems praising the prosperity of Luoyang's peonies. - During the Northern Song Dynasty, Luoyang's peony reached its peak, the "best under the heavens" era. A large number of peonies were planted in the city. There were also a large number of wild peonies distributed in the surrounding Funiu Mountain, Xiao Mountain, and Mang Mountain. Qian Weiyan, who was left behind in Xijing, held a flower festival to admire peonies with the common people. He even sent "Yao Huang" to the capital for the emperor and the inner court to admire. Ouyang Xiu's "Luoyang Peony Record" praised it greatly. There were many varieties of peony in Luoyang, and there were dozens of representative varieties. Among them, Yao Huang was praised as "Flower King" and Wei Hua was praised as "Flower Queen". - After the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, the world was in chaos. Luoyang suffered many wars and declined. Luoyang's peonies were no longer as prosperous as during the Northern Song Dynasty. - During the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, Luoyang lost its status as the capital and was no longer the capital of Henan Province. Luoyang's peonies were no longer as famous as before. "Fairy Dream of Tang Shi: Fate of Peony" is equally wonderful. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!

If you want to take photos with Luoyang Peony, you can choose to go to Luoyang International Peony Garden. The peonies here would only bloom after April 15th. By late April, there might only be a sea of flowers here to see. The International Peony Garden covered an area of more than 400 acres. There were more than 700 varieties planted in the garden, including more than 100 foreign varieties. There was a bus stop near the park. If you took bus No. 83 from Luoyang Train Station, you could get there. There was also a taxi waiting area and a parking lot at the entrance (the parking lot was under the flyover), so the traffic was more convenient. In addition, different peonies had different postures and colors. The flowers were huge and beautiful. Whether it was a close-up shot of the delicate flowers of the peony or a photo of the person and the peony, it was very suitable. However, when taking photos, you must pay attention to the peony. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>

Luoyang Peony Story was created in the first year of Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty (1034). At that time, the creation of ornamental plant records began in the Tang Dynasty and prevailed in the Song Dynasty. Under such a background, Ouyang Xiu created this masterpiece about peonies. Ouyang Xiu used to be the official in Xijing (now Luoyang City, Henan Province). During his years in Luoyang, he had a deep understanding of Luoyang peony's flowers, flower names, Luoyang people's favorite peony customs and flower planting techniques, which laid a solid foundation for writing Luoyang Peony Story. Before him, although peony had a long history of planting in China and was recorded as a herbal medicine in the Shennong Herbal Classic of the Qin and Han Dynasties, there was no systematic record of peony as an ornamental flower. Luoyang Peony Record became the first encyclopedia about peony in China. In addition, from a cultural point of view, peonies had rich legends and historical origins in our country. For example, it was said that Luoyang had a special connection with peonies during the period of King Wen of Zhou. The legends such as Luo Shen Mi Fei being granted the title of Peony Fairy also reflected the special status of peonies in Luoyang culture. These constituted the cultural and historical background of the creation of Luoyang Peony. "Fairy Dream of Tang Shi: Fate of Peony" is equally wonderful. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!