The Flower Language and Legend of Poppy

legend

According to legend, at the end of the Qin Dynasty, the Chu and Han were fighting each other, and the Overlord of Western Chu, Xiang Yu, was defeated and besieged by the Han army at Gaixia. Xiang Yu knew that it was difficult to break out of the siege, so he gave his beloved horse to Yu Ji, hoping that Yu Ji could survive. However, after Yu Ji finished singing "The Song of Gaixia" with tears in her eyes, she suddenly pulled out the sword from Xiang Yu's waist and committed suicide.

Later, a kind of grass grew on Yu Ji's tomb. It had soft stems and long leaves, and it swayed without wind, like a beautiful woman dancing gracefully, charming and lovely.

According to folklore, this flower was transformed from Concubine Yu, so this grass was called "Yu Meiren Grass" and its flower was called "Yu Meiren". It is said that the bright red color of the poppy flowers was dyed by Concubine Yu's blood.

The poppy blooms in late spring and early summer, as if Yu Ji had never left, and her loyalty and waiting for the Overlord still exist in Yu Ji's heart.

Poetry

Song Dynasty Yi Youxue's poem "Ode to the Poppy Grass":

The hegemony will decline and the Han Dynasty will rise, but the beauty in the jade tent is drunk and hard to wake up. It's a pity that the grass on the original place is stained with blood and it still dances till now.

The seven-character quatrain "Yu Meiren" by a female poet surnamed Xu in the Qing Dynasty:

The king's spirit has gone to Jiangdong, how can a humble concubine like me be worthy of entering the Han Palace; his green blood turns into grass on the river, and the flowers in bloom are redder than the azalea.

Flower Language

The flower language of white poppy symbolizes comfort and consolation.

The flower language of pink poppy represents great luxury and obedience.

As for Concubine Yu, in ancient times it symbolized separation of life and death, and a sad song, which probably originated from Farewell My Concubine.