People's favor for the Special 44 "Chrysanthemum (First Group)" stamps is not only the direct reason that it is the best stamp among New China stamps, but also probably stems from the thousands of years of Chinese nation's stamps. Admiration and love for chrysanthemums.
Chrysanthemum, also known as Juhua, Qiuju, Jiuhua, Huanghua, Emperor's Flower, etc., is native to China and is a traditional Chinese flower. The chrysanthemum not only has an elegant, colorful appearance and a faint fragrance, but also has the inner quality of "promoting the beauty even in the cold" and "the autumn frost does not change its shape". Its grace and beauty have become the symbol of the gentle and elegant Chinese national spirit. As a symbol, the chrysanthemum is also regarded as the quintessence of the country and has been loved by people since ancient times. Chrysanthemums and the culture of the Chinese nation have long had an indissoluble bond.
Chrysanthemums were highly praised by ancient Chinese literati, as evidenced by the fact that chrysanthemums are known as one of the "Four Gentlemen" of flowers (plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum). Because it is noble, graceful, colorful, beautiful in both shape and quality, and because it blooms in late autumn, stands proud of the frost, and does not wither in the cold, chrysanthemum has become the "starter of feeling things" and "borrowing things to express aspirations" for literati of all ages. Important subject matter. Many poems personify the chrysanthemum as a symbol of people who are content with poverty, do not admire glory, and have integrity. The first person in my country to write a poem praising the indomitable spirit of chrysanthemums was Tao Yuanming, a great poet of the Jin Dynasty. He chanted: "The chrysanthemums bloom in the forest and the green pines crown the rocks. With this pure and beautiful appearance, Zhuo is a hero under the frost." Tao Yuanming's love for chrysanthemums was widely circulated. He wrote many poems about chrysanthemums, such as "Picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the Nanshan Mountain"; "Three paths are barren, but pines and chrysanthemums still exist"; "Autumn chrysanthemums have beautiful colors, and even more dew captures their beauty" and other famous lines , is still popular today. At that time, the doctor admired his high moral integrity and planted many chrysanthemums to admire them. He praised the chrysanthemums for their "fragrant fragrance and bright colors." The famous poet Lu You also once praised chrysanthemums: "A few yellow branches are scattered among them. They are high-spirited and chaste, and they are strong in festivals."
There are many varieties of chrysanthemums, and there are more than 8,000 of them in my country alone. variety. Because chrysanthemums have rich flower shapes and colors, a long flowering period, and large amounts of flowers, they are excellent plant materials for arranging flower beds, flower borders, and rock gardens. Therefore, chrysanthemums have always been people's favorite ornamental flowers. Almost all colors in the world, such as red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, indigo, and purple, can be expressed in chrysanthemums. People appreciate its various flowers, colorful colors and clear meaning. Elegant fragrance, the remarkable thing about chrysanthemum lies in its variety of flower shapes, numerous and fascinating patterns. Just look at its posture: some are slim and graceful, some are dancing gracefully, some have soft hair flowing, and some have half-covered delicate faces. The red chrysanthemums are blooming like flames spurting out; the chrysanthemum mountain is like a swirling Milky Way. The rich are like peonies, graceful and generous; the elegant are like plum blossoms, beautiful and dignified; the chic are like orchids, graceful... At present, more than 30 cities in my country have designated chrysanthemum as the city flower. Every golden autumn, many cities hold various forms of chrysanthemum exhibitions to enrich people's spiritual and cultural life. In the past, the "yellow flower" in the eyes of literati has become the prosperity in the minds of modern people. Appreciation and chanting are no longer the exclusive preserve of literati.
Chinese people have their own unique aesthetic sentiment towards chrysanthemums. The traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, humility, temperament, and stubborn spirit are all expressed through the carrier of chrysanthemum. Chinese people love chrysanthemums just like Westerners love roses, which is a reflection of national conditions and human feelings. The image of chrysanthemum written by literati of the past dynasties is also a reflection of the cultural connotation of the Chinese people. The numerous varieties and colorful colors of chrysanthemums are no longer important in people's eyes. What people pay attention to is the spirit of chrysanthemums: "it blooms after the forest has withered, and flourishes when the dew is cold"; "spring dew does not dye it, and autumn mountains do not change their stripes." His integrity and the character of "Dan Ji is well-known and his heart should be in the wild, and he is naturally proud and does not rely on others". Even if you write in a careless way, you can still be shocked...