One of Chinese art's 'four gentlemen' at Guozhuang Park
The orchid has been dubbed one of the "four gentlemen" in Chinese art for a millennium, along with the chrysanthemum, plum blossom and bamboo. Ancient people lauded its refined beauty in poems and ink-wash paintings.
For centuries, orchids have been an indispensable part of Chinese literature and traditional horticulture. Orchid culture peaked during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) when Hangzhou was made the capital.
Springtime orchid viewing is a tradition that has been handed down for generations. For years, Guozhuang Park in West Lake has been the mecca for orchid aficionados, as the annual orchid exhibition is considered the Olympics of horticulture with rare varieties and bonsais on display.
More than 400 pots of 200 flowering orchid varieties welcome visitors to Guozhuang Park. This year, people can see the world's only chikehesu (赤壳荷素), the red shell variety, which has been a Hangzhou treasure for decades.
Showcased is a pot of chikehesu, the treasure for decades in Hangzhou.
Chikehesu features red bud hulls, green petals and white labellum. It had not bloomed since 1978 until 2018 when it bloomed again, causing a sensation in the Chinese orchids field.
Xu Ye from the Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor, one of the landmark scenic spots of West Lake scenic area, has been taking care of chikehesu since the 1980s. He has spent more than 10 years researching soil blending and fertilizers and replacing planting soil to nourish the roots, which finally came to fruition in 2018. Since then, the orchid has flowered five times every year. This year, it has already produced three flowers.
Three flowers of chikehesu are produced this year.
Along with chikehesu, the exhibition features orchids that echo the Year of the Tiger. The hurui (虎蕊) variety, which literally means tiger pistils in Chinese, features patterned petals that look like tiger stripes.
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Wang Keming cultivated a new orchid variety and named it Wangzi. Since then, Wangzi has been dubbed one of the "top four orchids" along with Songmei, Jiyuan and Longzi. Wangzi orchids are part of this year's exhibition.
Orchids distinguish themselves from other plants by virtue of its flowers' bilateral symmetry, resupinate petals and labellum.
People in Zhejiang began planting orchids during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), according to historical archives, and the province has been the center of orchid production throughout the dynasties.
Over time, creations of orchid imagery and themes also emerged and developed, which gradually occupied an important position in Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) literature and art.
Song people's aesthetic for orchids primarily manifested in three ways – natural images, divine features and personal symbolism. They revealed the beauty of orchids' moral character through its forms and habits, which in turn strengthened the flower's symbolic meanings, a harbinger of spring that vigorously flourishes in the snow before many other blossoms appear.
Exhibition organizers have arranged Song Dynasty paintings to match orchid bonsais. During that period, painting orchids was a way for scholars to express their noble aspirations and admiration for high-minded ideas. Orchid-related culture was in its heyday, as a cavalcade of literati created proses and poems praising the flower.
After viewing the orchid exhibition, people can visit other parts of Guozhuang Park where organizers have set up flower arrangements featuring Southern Song Dynasty styles.
The exhibition also features orchids to echo the Year of the Tiger.
Near the Breeze-ruffled Lotus at Quyuan Garden scenic spot, the park has beautiful views that mesh natural landscape with historical architecture.
Covering almost 10,000 square meters, the park has a pavilion in the center and large pond that covers half of the grounds. As ancient Chinese people believed water could bring life and vigor, the pond was a place to refresh and meditate.
Though not as magnificent as the royal gardens, Guozhuang Park is still exquisite and elegant arranged, so the stones and rock formations are in harmony with the pond.
