Assembly of Fragrances, Volume 26
Page 111

Japanese Rose

original: 棣棠 (Ditang); Kerria japonica. A deciduous shrub in the rose family known for its golden-yellow flowers.

Illustrated Investigation of the Names and Realities of Plants

Lilac Flower

Dingxianghua; Syringa
The name "Dingxiang" literally means "nail fragrance," referring to the flower buds' resemblance to small Chinese nails and their potent scent.

The Shantang Sikao An expansive Ming dynasty encyclopedia compiled by Peng Dayi, known for its deep literary and historical research. states that the people of Jiangnan The culturally rich region "South of the Yangtze River," famous for its sophisticated garden culture. refer to the Lilac as the "Hundred-Knot Flower" original: Baijiehua. This name evokes the visual of the dense, bunched flower clusters which resemble intricate decorative knots.. The Manual of Flowering Plants original: Caohua Pu. describes the Purple Lilac as having flowers resembling tiny cloves, but with soft, purple petals that grow from clusters of buds.

Author's Observation: According to my own findings, Lilacs are extremely abundant in the Northern regions of China. The trees are surprisingly robust, capable of reaching a height of over ten feet. The leaves bear a resemblance to those of the Jasmine plant, though they are distinguished by a much deeper, richer shade of green.

In the second month of the lunar calendar Typically corresponding to late March or April in the Gregorian calendar., the tree produces small, trumpet-shaped flowers in two distinct varieties: purple and white. These blossoms do not grow in isolation but in dense, crowded clusters of a hundred or more, creating a spectacular visual display. The white variety is particularly prized among scholars and gardeners for its clear, refined, and piercingly sweet fragrance. After the flowering season concludes and the blossoms have fallen, the plant produces fruit that resembles the Lianqiao Forsythia; a common medicinal and ornamental shrub.