Chinese Twelve Flower Gods 十二花神
If you watched the Chunwan (春晚 ; chūn wǎn, CMG Spring Festival Gala / CCTV New Year’s Gala) during the last Chinese New Year, you might recall a segment showcasing 12 flowers with their 12 flower gods. Coinciding with the arrival of spring, I want to share with you each month’s flower, and what its meaning and symbolism are.
Twelve Flower Gods (十二花神 ; shí èr huā shén) refers to the flower gods in Chinese folklore who represent the twelve months of the Chinese calendar (农历 ; nóng lì). Their main duty is to protect and ensure the flourishing growth of flowers. This system includes two sets of figures, male and female, with various versions (in this article, I take the sources from the recent Chunwan show).
The Twelve Flower Gods culture not only reflects the ancient reverence for the life of flowers but also carries praise for the character of the ancestors, highlighting the Chinese nation’s respect for nature, culture, and noble spirits.
Month 1・Plum Blossom 梅花 (Flower God: Lin Bu 林逋)
A majestic flower, it has a cool elegance and carries an aura of luxury.
Core Meaning: Facing snow and frost, maintaining personal honor, welcoming spring, and bringing happiness.
Symbolic Interpretation: The plum blossom blooms first among all flowers, symbolizing resilience and perseverance; the five petals of the flower represent happiness, longevity, joy, peace, and abundance.
Month 2・Apricot Blossom 杏花 (Flower God: Lu You 陆游)
Spring rain nourishes the apricot blossoms, with white and red colors blending on the tree, bringing a gentle message of early spring.
Core Meaning: The warmth of spring, elegance mixed with a bit of melancholy, and new hopes.
Symbolic Interpretation: The apricot flower blooming first represents the vitality of early spring, and also hints at the slight sorrow of cultured and elegant people.
Month 3・Peach Blossom 桃花 (Flower God: Xi Fu Ren 息夫人)
The most popular flower in spring! The entire tree is filled with blooming peach blossoms, bringing good luck.
Core Meaning: Radiant beauty, happiness in love, many children, and many blessings.
Symbolic Interpretation: Peach blossoms symbolize the beauty and virtue of a bride, and also represent a prosperous family and a flourishing spring.
Month 4・Shao Yao 芍药 (Flower God: Yang Yuhuan 杨玉环)
The “Flower of Beauty” appears, graceful and comparable to the peony, becoming the symbol of late spring romance.
Core Meaning: Luxury and elegance, sincere love, prosperity, and happiness.
Symbolic Interpretation: “Flowers like garments and clouds in harmony”, Shao Yao is associated with beautiful women, symbolizing elegance and deep affection.
Month 5・Pomegranate Blossom 榴花 (Flower God: Zhang Qian 张骞)
Bright red like fire, standing out under the summer sun, symbolizing many children and many blessings.
Core Meaning: Passionate energy, many children and blessings, prosperity.
Symbolic Interpretation: Zhang Qian brought back pomegranates from the Western Regions. The red flowers like fire symbolize a prosperous life, and the pomegranate’s many seeds represent the continuation of descendants.
Month 6・Lotus 荷花 (Flower God: Zhou Dunyi 周敦颐)
Growing from the mud but remaining pure, the symbol of summer coolness with Zen philosophy.
Core Meaning: Purity and elegance, unaffected by the mundane world, perfect harmony.
Symbolic Interpretation: The lotus is the flower of the noble-hearted, symbolizing noble character; the word “lotus” sounds like “harmony”, symbolizing good fortune and harmony.
Month 7・Althea 蜀葵 (Flower God: Xu Wei 徐渭)
Beautiful and bold in bloom, unafraid of the scorching heat, growing freely and with enthusiasm.
Core Meaning: A heart directed towards the sun, unwavering resilience, courage, and perseverance.
Symbolic Interpretation: The Althea blooms towards the sun, symbolizing sincerity and steadfastness in facing challenges and difficulties.
Month 8・Osmanthus 桂花 (Flower God: Li Qingzhao 李清照)
One osmanthus flower spreads its fragrance across the courtyard, its aroma fitting with the full moon, symbolizing the feeling of reunion.
Core Meaning: Elegance and nobility, good fortune and glory, eternal reunion.
Symbolic Interpretation: The distant fragrance of osmanthus, the word “osmanthus” sounds like “prosperity”, symbolizing wealth and glory, and also symbolizing reunion under the full moon.
Month 9・Chrysanthemum 菊花 (Flower God: Tao Yuanming 陶渊明)
Chrysanthemums bloom during the Chongyang Festival, blooming despite being covered by frost, and are much loved by scholars.
Core Meaning: A simple life, independence and steadfastness, immortality and longevity.
Symbolic Interpretation: Chrysanthemums blooming in frost symbolize a life unaffected by the world and a simple nature, also a symbol of longevity.
Month 10・Hibiscus 芙蓉 (Flower God: Wang Zhaojun 王昭君)
An astonishing beauty in late autumn, it blooms with two different colors throughout the day.
Core Meaning: Noble purity, graceful beauty, nationalism, and devotion.
Symbolic Interpretation: The hibiscus blooms in late autumn, symbolizing steadfastness and devotion; it is associated with Wang Zhaojun, symbolizing the spirit of devotion and national loyalty.
Month 11・Camellia 山茶花 (Flower God: Bai Juyi 白居易)
Bright colors in the winter, blooming strongly and beautifully despite the low temperature.
Core Meaning: Challenging the winter, unwavering resilience, purity, and elegance.
Symbolic Interpretation: Camellias blooming in winter symbolize a strong life force, and elegance in solitude, bringing warm colors to the winter.
Month 12・Narcissus 水仙花 (Flower God: Luo Shen 洛神)
Pure and elegant at the year’s end, with a mystical aura, welcoming the new spring.
Core Meaning: Pure purity, extraordinary elegance, good fortune, and perfection.
Symbolic Interpretation: The beautiful and fragrant narcissus leaves symbolize elegance and purity, representing perfection at the end of the year.
It turns out that the month of our birth holds an exclusive flower with the romantic essence of Chinese culture 🌸
Which flower god aligns with your birthday? Leave a comment below to see if you share the same flower god!