Gorgeous pictures in this lovely post. I hadn't heard of pear blossoms as a thing, often peach blossoms in China. But i found this poem by Su Shi, who seems to be on everyone's mind lately. He wrote it while he lived in Suzhou.
Fascinating! I did not know of her love for pears. Yang Gui Fei also loved lychees so much so that the emperor had to please her with men on long horseback route, just to courier those fruits back to her. 长安回望绣成堆，山顶千门次第开。一骑红尘妃子笑，无人知是荔枝 (lychee) 来
I’m not sure if she loved pears, but the poet compared her beautiful face to pear blossoms in his poem. I knew about the lychees. It’s really cute. Has she had them sent to her by horse! The court at the time also had something like a pear blossom or a pear theater or something like that and I wonder if it’s related to her!
So interesting! Pear, poetry, theater playhouse. You know, I’ve been thinking between two tea pots so maybe I will settle with the pear shaped one. 😊🍐🫖
Oh, pear blossoms! I really enjoyed this piece so much. Learning the changes the pear blossom went through -- isn't it fascinating? Something thought as banal would then be the countenance of Yang Guifei's face. Presumably to illuminate her? hidden qualities? Someone said that beauty is the beginning of terror. (I think that is the quote.)
That’s an interesting quote! I think it was thought of as banal in Japan that was always enjoyed in China… My teacher sent me a copy of her flower encyclopedia in Japanese and the entry on blossoms also mentions that they are much more appreciated in China… I feel kind of sad that I’m not going to do that poetry workshop with Victoria Chang this summer. It would’ve been such a learning experience for me because I’m so far behind the power curve.
I'm sure you know the Kyoto temple dedicated to Yang Guifei...
Yes, but I never made it there….xo
Gorgeous pictures in this lovely post. I hadn't heard of pear blossoms as a thing, often peach blossoms in China. But i found this poem by Su Shi, who seems to be on everyone's mind lately. He wrote it while he lived in Suzhou.
梨花淡白柳深青，
柳絮飞时花满城。
惆怅东栏一株雪，
人生看得几清明！
Snow white are the blossoming pears,
And liquid are the willows’ dark green.
The catkins are floating like snowing;
The town’s glowing with vibrant spring.
At the east fence I find a lonely man,
By a lonely tree like pure snow, sighing:
How few are such a view of Qingming!
How few can really see life’s meaning!
translation by Julia Min at https://www.rhymesandvibes.com/post/%E4%B8%9C%E6%A0%8F%E6%A2%A8%E8%8A%B1-the-blooming-pear-tree-by-east-fence
Thank you so much, Debbie!!!!!! I had never seen this poem before and I really really enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing it!
Fascinating! I did not know of her love for pears. Yang Gui Fei also loved lychees so much so that the emperor had to please her with men on long horseback route, just to courier those fruits back to her. 长安回望绣成堆，山顶千门次第开。一骑红尘妃子笑，无人知是荔枝 (lychee) 来
I’m not sure if she loved pears, but the poet compared her beautiful face to pear blossoms in his poem. I knew about the lychees. It’s really cute. Has she had them sent to her by horse! The court at the time also had something like a pear blossom or a pear theater or something like that and I wonder if it’s related to her!
So interesting! Pear, poetry, theater playhouse. You know, I’ve been thinking between two tea pots so maybe I will settle with the pear shaped one. 😊🍐🫖
I would love to see a picture when you decide!!!!
Ha sure, only if I can finally decide 😅
Oh, pear blossoms! I really enjoyed this piece so much. Learning the changes the pear blossom went through -- isn't it fascinating? Something thought as banal would then be the countenance of Yang Guifei's face. Presumably to illuminate her? hidden qualities? Someone said that beauty is the beginning of terror. (I think that is the quote.)
That’s an interesting quote! I think it was thought of as banal in Japan that was always enjoyed in China… My teacher sent me a copy of her flower encyclopedia in Japanese and the entry on blossoms also mentions that they are much more appreciated in China… I feel kind of sad that I’m not going to do that poetry workshop with Victoria Chang this summer. It would’ve been such a learning experience for me because I’m so far behind the power curve.