The language and meaning of orchids, and what are the legends?

1. The language and meaning of orchids

There are many varieties of orchids, each with different flower language and meaning, but the overall language of orchids is elegance and indifference. Orchids, bamboo, plum blossoms and chrysanthemums are known as the Four Gentlemen of Flowers, which is enough to show the orchid's noble qualities. Keeping a pot of orchids at home also has the beautiful connotation of patriotism, non-contention and indifference to fame and fortune. It is a symbol of loyalty, simplicity, elegance and virtue.

2. What are the legends about orchids?

During the reign of King Huai of Chu, Qu Yuan was framed and banished back to his hometown. After returning to his hometown, Qu Yuan set up a school by the Jiuwan Creek at the foot of the Fairy Mountain to teach and educate people. One day, the Orchid Goddess of Fairy Mountain passed by and heard about Qu Yuan’s patriotic feelings. She then transformed the three orchids that Qu Yuan had planted under his window into spirits.

During one lecture, Qu Yuan became overly excited and spat out a mouthful of blood that splashed onto the orchid under the window. He fell seriously ill and was bedridden that night. Unexpectedly, the next day, the three orchids under the window had grown into dozens of them. The subtle fragrance of the orchids drifted into the house, and Qu Yuan's condition improved after hearing the fragrance. So Qu Yuan's students transplanted orchids to various corners of the school and found that the orchids came to life and grew rapidly after being transplanted into the soil.

Later, Qu Yuan took his students to transplant orchids to the streamside and the mountain, and planted a total of nine acres (30 acres was called one acre in ancient times). From then on, the stream at the foot of Fairy Mountain was named Jiuwan Creek. Later, Qu Yuan committed suicide by jumping into the river unjustly, and all the orchids along the Jiuwan River withered. The school where Qu Yuan left behind was renamed Zhilan Temple, and orchids were widely planted.