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60-620: In China, the term "plum rain" was used for the rain in the fourth and fifth lunar month. It specifically refers to the historical belief that, when the plums turn yellow and fall at the south of the Yangtze in the fourth and fifth months, the moisture that evaporates from the plant turns into rain. The term appears in the following poem by Du Fu (fl. 8th century) of the Tang dynasty : 梅雨 南京犀浦道，四月熟黃梅。 湛湛長江去，冥冥細雨來。 茅茨疏易溼，雲霧密難開。 竟日蛟龍喜，盤渦與岸迴。 Plum rain On

120-558: A kigo or season word for early spring. The blossoms are associated with the Japanese bush warbler and are depicted together on one of the twelve suits of hanafuda (Japanese playing cards). Plum blossoms were favored during the Nara period (710–794) until the emergence of the Heian period (794–1185), in which the cherry blossom was preferred. Japanese tradition holds that the ume functions as

180-453: A dried variety, and a wet (pickled) variety. Umeboshi ( 梅干 ) are pickled and dried plums. They are a Japanese specialty. Pickled with coarse salt, they are quite salty and sour, and therefore eaten sparingly. They are often red in colour when purple shiso leaves are used. Plums used for making umeboshi are harvested in late May or early June, while they are ripe enough in yellow, and layered with much salt. They are weighed down with

240-399: A drought might result. The rainy season ends when the warm air mass associated with the subtropical ridge is strong enough to push the front north and away. The high humidity in the air during this season encourages the formation of mold and rot not only on food but on fabrics as well. Environmentally, heavy rains encourage mudslides and flooding in all areas affected. The most rain in

300-558: A groove running from the stalk to the tip. The skin turns yellow, sometimes with a red blush, as it ripens, and the flesh becomes yellow. The tree is cultivated for its fruit and flowers . The scientific name combines the Latin prūnus (“ (European) plum tree ”) and the obsolete Japanese pronunciation of 梅 ( mume ). The plant is known by a number of different names in English , including Chinese plum and Japanese apricot. An alternative name

360-435: A heavy stone (or some more modern implement) until late August. They are then dried in the sun on bamboo mats for several days (they are returned to the salt at night). The flavonoid pigment in shiso leaves gives them their distinctive colour and a richer flavour. Umeboshi are generally eaten with rice as part of a bento (boxed lunch), although they may also be used in makizushi (rolled sushi). Umeboshi are also used as

420-551: A one-hour period as recorded in Japan was in Nagasaki in 1982 with 153 millimetres (6.0 in). The highest overall recorded rainfall during the rainy season in Japan was in 2003 when Miyazaki Prefecture recorded rains of 8,670 millimetres (341 in). In Japan, the rainy season is called tsuyu ( 梅雨 ) , and lasts from early June to mid-July in most of the country ( Honshu , Kyushu and Shikoku ), approximately June 7 to July 20 in

480-514: A popular filling for rice balls (onigiri) wrapped in nori . Makizushi made with plums may be made with either umeboshi or bainiku ( umeboshi paste), often in conjunction with green shiso leaves. A byproduct of umeboshi production is umeboshi vinegar, a salty, sour condiment. In Korea, there is 'maesil-jangajji' which is similar to 'umeboshi'. It is a common side dish in Korea. A very similar variety of pickled plum, xí muội or ô mai

540-418: A protective charm against evil, so the ume is traditionally planted in the northeast of the garden, the direction from which evil is believed to come. The eating of the pickled fruit for breakfast is also supposed to stave off misfortune. The tradition of hanami was originally performed with plum blossoms rather than cherry blossoms as is common today. The specific custom of viewing plum blossoms in Japan

600-556: A red plum flower blossom as its symbol. The plum blossoms are featured on one of the four flowers that appear on mahjong tile sets , where mei ( 梅 ) is usually simply translated as "plum" in English. It has been suggested that the Japanese practice of hanami may have originated from the Chinese custom of enjoying poetry and wine underneath plum blossom trees while viewing their flowers, that

660-411: A similar drink is made from green plums and tastes sweet and tangy, is considered a cold, refreshing drink, and is often enjoyed in the summer. A thick, sweet Chinese sauce called meijiang ( 梅醬 ) or meizijiang ( 梅子醬 ), usually translated as " plum sauce ", is also made from the plums, along with other ingredients such as sugar, vinegar, salt, ginger, chili, and garlic. Similar to duck sauce , it

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720-578: A small delicate plum blossom design. This is also the mythical origin of the floral fashion, meihua chuang (梅花妝; literally "plum blossom makeup"), that originated in the Southern Dynasties (420–589) and became popular amongst ladies in the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties. The markings of plum blossom designs on the foreheads of court ladies were usually made with paintlike materials such as sorghum powder, gold powder, paper , jade , and other tint substances. Princess Shouyang

780-542: A strong fragrant scent. They have colors in varying shades of white, pink, and red. The leaves appear shortly after the petals fall, are oval-shaped with a pointed tip, and are 4–8 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide. The fruit ripens in early summer, around June and July in East Asia, and coincides with the East Asian rainy season , the meiyu ( 梅雨 , "plum rain"). The drupe is 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) in diameter with

840-474: Is ume or mume . Another alternative name is mei . The flower is known as the meihua ( 梅花 ) in Chinese, which came to be translated as "plum blossom" or sometimes as "flowering plum". The term "winter plum" may be used too, specifically with regard to the depiction of the flower with its early blooming in Chinese painting . The character 梅 was created by combining the semantic component 木 (“tree”) with

900-454: Is a Chinese tree species classified in the Armeniaca section of the genus Prunus subgenus Prunus . Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum , and Japanese apricot . The flower, long a beloved subject in the traditional painting and poetry of Sinospheric countries (including China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan), is usually called plum blossom . This distinct tree species

960-427: Is a very popular variety in Japan, and whose fruits are mainly used for making Umeboshi . In China, suanmeitang ( 酸梅湯 ; "sour plum juice") is made from smoked plums , called wumei ( 烏梅 ). The plum juice is extracted by boiling smoked plums in water and sweetened with sugar to make suanmeitang . It ranges from light pinkish-orange to purplish black in colour and often has a smoky and slightly salty taste. It

1020-730: Is also a long and old street in Hanoi. All these places are located in the south part of Hanoi, where, in the past, many P. mume trees were grown. Camellia sasanqua Camellia sasanqua , with common name sasanqua camellia , is a species of Camellia native to southern Japan ( Kyushu , Ryukyu Islands and Shikoku ). It is usually found growing up to an altitude of 900 m (3,000 ft). Growing to 5 m (16 ft) tall, this evergreen shrub has leaves that are broad elliptic, 3–7 cm long and 1.2–3 cm broad, with finely serrated margins. The flowers are 5–7 cm in diameter, with 5–8 white to dark pink petals. At

1080-439: Is also known as Samidare ( 五月雨 , literally "the fifth-month rain (in the Japanese traditional calendar )", roughly corresponding to June in the modern calendar) . The pop artist Eiichi Ohtaki produced a popular song by this name, and a Second World War Japanese naval ship was also given this name. The rains in the middle of November - early December are sometimes called the sazanka tsuyu , literally "rainy season of

1140-419: Is called rượu mơ . A brand selling plum liquor is Sơn Tinh. In Chinese cuisine, plums pickled with vinegar and salt are called suanmeizi ( 酸梅子 ; "sour plum fruits"), and have an intensely sour and salty flavour. They are generally made from unripe plum fruits. Huamei ( 話梅 ) are Chinese preserved plums and refer to Chinese plums pickled in sugar, salt, and herbs. There are two general varieties:

1200-471: Is celebrated as the goddess of the plum blossom in Chinese culture. During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the garden designer Ji Cheng wrote his definitive garden architecture monograph Yuanye and in it, he described the plum tree as the "beautiful woman of the forest and moon". The appreciation of nature at night plays an important role in Chinese gardens . For this reason, there are classical pavilions for

1260-451: Is disputed whether Prunus zhengheensis ( Chinese : 政和杏 ) is a separate species or conspecific with Prunus mume . It is found in the Fujian province of China. It is only known from one county, Zhenghe . It is a tree 35–40 m (110–130 ft) tall, preferring to grow at 700–1,000 m (2,300–3,300 ft) above sea level. The yellow fruit is delectable and aside from its height, it

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1320-574: Is highly regarded as a seasonal symbol. Prunus mume should not be confused with Prunus salicina , a related species also grown in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Another tree, Prunus japonica , is also a separate species despite having a Latin name similar to Prunus mume' s common name. Prunus mume originated in the region around the Yangtze River in southern China and was cultivated domestically for both its ornamental beauty and its fruit. It

1380-425: Is indistinguishable from P. mume . In Japan, ornamental Prunus mume cultivars are classified into yabai (wild), hibai (red), and bungo ( Bungo Province ) types. The bungo trees are also grown for fruit and are hybrids between Prunus mume and apricot. The hibai trees have red heartwood and most of them have red flowers. The yabai trees are also used as grafting stock. Among yabai trees, Nankoume

1440-516: Is now called umemi (梅見, plum-viewing). In Vietnam , due to the beauty of the tree and its flowers, the word mai is used to name girls. The largest hospital in Hanoi is named Bạch Mai (white plum blossom), another hospital in Hanoi is named Mai Hương ("the scent of plum"), situated in Hồng Mai (pink plum blossom) street. Hoàng Mai (yellow plum blossom) is the name of a district in Hanoi . Bạch Mai

1500-401: Is one of the most beloved flowers in China and has been frequently depicted in Chinese art and poetry for centuries. The plum blossom is seen as a symbol of winter and a harbinger of spring. The blossoms are so beloved because they are viewed as blooming most vibrantly amidst the winter snow, exuding an ethereal elegance, while their fragrance is noticed to still subtly pervade the air at even

1560-480: Is popular in both Japan and Korea, and is also produced in China. Umeshu ( 梅酒 ; "plum wine") is a Japanese alcoholic drink made by steeping green plums in shōchū (clear liquor). It is sweet and smooth. A similar liquor in Korea, called maesil-ju ( 매실주, 梅實酒 ; "plum wine"), is marketed under various brand names, including Mae hwa soo, Matchsoon, and Seoljungmae. Both the Japanese and Korean varieties of plum liquor are available with whole plum fruits contained in

1620-424: Is related to both the plum and apricot trees. Although generally referred to as a plum in English, it is more closely related to the apricot. In East Asian cuisine ( Chinese , Japanese , Korean and Vietnamese cuisine ), the fruit of the tree is used in juices, as a flavouring for alcohol, as a pickle , and in sauces. It is also used in traditional medicine. The tree's flowering in late winter and early spring

1680-411: Is traditionally flavoured with sweet osmanthus flowers, and is enjoyed chilled, usually in summer. In Korea, both the flowers and the fruits are used to make tea. Maehwa-cha ( 매화차, 梅花茶 ; "plum blossom tea") is made by infusing the flowers in hot water. Maesil-cha ( 매실차, 梅實茶 ; "plum tea") is made by mixing water with maesil-cheong (plum syrup) and is served either hot or cold. In Japan,

1740-464: Is used as a condiment for various Chinese dishes, including poultry dishes and egg rolls . In Korea, maesil-cheong ( 매실청, 梅實淸 , "plum syrup"), an anti-microbial syrup made by sugaring ripe plums, is used as a condiment and sugar substitute . It can be made by simply mixing plums and sugar together, and then leaving them for about 100 days. To make syrup, the ratio of sugar to plum should be at least 1:1 to prevent fermentation , by which

1800-677: Is used in Vietnamese cuisine . The best fruit for this are from the forest around the Hương Pagoda in Hà Tây Province . Prunus mume is a common fruit in Asia and is used in traditional Chinese medicine . Plum blossoms have been well-loved and celebrated across the East Asian cultural sphere, which includes China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. The plum blossom, which is known as the meihua ( 梅花 ),

1860-601: The Kansai and Kantō regions in Honshū. The tsuyu season is roughly a month earlier (early May through mid-June) in Okinawa (the southernmost region of the country). There is no pronounced tsuyu season in Hokkaidō (the northernmost region of the country) because the tsuyu front usually attenuates before it reaches the region so that it cannot produce the abundant rainfall. Tsuyu

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1920-438: The Yangtze region and there was no rainy season there. Then, the ridge retreated southward and there was significant rainfall in the region. This gave rise to the question of whether this was the summer-type rainfall pattern that is common after the first rainy season or the second rainy season. Some meteorologists even argued that the rainy period in late June was not a true rainy season. Prunus mume Prunus mume

1980-627: The camellia " because the timing coincides with the blossoming of the seasonal flower. The rainy season is between June and mid-July. It is caused by hot and humid high pressure forming in the Sea of Okhotsk due to the North Pacific anticyclone combining with Asiatic continental high pressure. When the two meteorological events meet they form a long jangmajeonseon (Korean:  장마전선 , from 장마 ; lit.  rainy season and 전선 ; 前線 ; lit.  weather front). Beginning in late May,

2040-552: The Chinese aesthetic of art, painting, literature, and garden design. An example of the plum blossom's literary significance is found in the life and work of poet Lin Bu ( 林逋 ) of the Song dynasty (960–1279). For much of his later life, Lin Bu lived in quiet reclusion on a cottage by West Lake in Hangzhou , China. According to stories, he loved plum blossoms and cranes so much that he considered

2100-520: The North Pacific high pressure forces the weaker continental anticyclone south of Okinawa Island . This fall to the south then reverses and gradually strengthens as it moves northwards back towards the Korean peninsula. On landfall, heavy monsoon rains lead to torrential downpours and flooding. By August the system has weakened as the southern systems retreat towards the Philippine archipelago. By early autumn,

2160-455: The North Pacific high-pressure system is pushed away as Asiatic continental cold high pressure moves southwards. This produces inclement weather although not on the scale of the summer monsoons. Korea can, however, be struck by typhoons during this period. In some years, the rainy season's actual beginning and end are under debate. For example, in 2005, the subtropical ridge moved quickly northward in late June/early July. The weather front skipped

2220-621: The United States. It has a long history of cultivation in Japan for practical rather than decorative reasons. The leaves are used to make tea while the seeds or nuts are used to make tea seed oil , which is used for lighting, lubrication, cooking and cosmetic purposes. Tea oil has a higher calorific content than any other edible oil available naturally in Japan. Camellia sasanqua is valued in gardens for its handsome glossy green foliage, and fragrant single flowers that can range in color from white to deep pink and are produced extremely early in

2280-535: The Xipu road from the Southern Capital [present-day Chengdu ], the fourth month ripens the yellow p[r]unus. The long river goes off surging, and, darkening, a fine rain comes. Roof-thatch, loosely bound, is easily soaked, clouds and fog are dense and will not lift. All day long the dragons delight, whirlpools turning with the bank. Japan later adapted and transliterated the Chinese term "plum rain" to call

2340-790: The beginning of the Edo period, cultivars of Camellia sasanqua began appearing; the first record of the cultivars of this plant was made by Ihei Ito (1695–1733). The Japanese call it Sazanka ( サザンカ , 山茶花 ). This plant was not known in western society until in 1820 Captain Richard Rawes of the East Indiaman Warren Hastings brought Camellia sasanqua var. stricata to his relation, Thomas Carey Palmer, of Bromley in Kent. Then in 1869, Dutch traders imported some specimens into Europe. It has now also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand and

2400-426: The blossom into many of his openwork celadon vases. Also, during Korean Empire period, the plum blossom became the imperial seal and royal official flower. Since ancient times, plum blossom has been filled with meaning and mystery. Plum blossoms bloom at the end of the winter, and because of this, they are called the herald of spring. They also symbolize perseverance because of how they can possibly bloom during

2460-483: The bottle. In China, plum wine is called méijiǔ ( 梅酒 ). In Taiwan , a popular 1950s innovation over the Japanese-style plum wine is the wumeijiu ( 烏梅酒 ; "smoked plum liquor"), which is made by mixing two types of plum liquor, meijiu ( 梅酒 ) made of P. mume and lijiu ( 李酒 ), made of P. salicina , and oolong tea liquor. In Vietnam, ripe plums are macerated in sticky rice liquor. The resulting liquor

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2520-491: The charms of smaller gardens. Their scattered shadows fall lightly on clear water, their subtle scent pervades the moonlit dusk. Snowbirds look again before they land, butterflies would faint if they but knew. Thankfully, I can flirt in whispered verse, I don't need a sounding board or winecup. As with the literary culture amongst the educated of the time, Lin Bu's poems were discussed in several Song dynasty era commentaries on poetry. Wang Junqing remarked after quoting

2580-408: The cold winter. Since they are considered the first flower of the year, they also represent purity and renewal. Plum flowers have five petals which are believed to carry 5 different blessings such as: wealth, health, virtue, peaceful and natural death. Plum blossoms are often mentioned in Japanese poetry as a symbol of spring, as well as elegance and purity. When used in haiku or renga , they are

2640-412: The coldest times of the year. Therefore, the plum blossom came to symbolize perseverance and hope, as well as beauty, purity, and the transitoriness of life. In Confucianism , the plum blossom stands for the principles and values of virtue. More recently, it has also been used as a metaphor to symbolize revolutionary struggle since the turn of the 20th century. Because it blossoms in the cold winter,

2700-474: The east China coast, initially across Taiwan and Okinawa, later, when it has shifted to the north, eastward into the southern peninsula of South Korea and Japan. In Taiwan and Okinawa , the rainy season usually lasts from May to June. In Russian Primorsky Krai , Japan, and Korea, it lasts from June to July (approximately 50 days). In eastern China (especially the Yangtze and Huai River regions), it lasts from mid June to early July. The weather front forms when

2760-482: The era. Legend has it that once on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, while Princess Shouyang ( 壽陽公主 ), daughter of Emperor Wu of Liu Song ( 劉宋武帝 ), was resting under the eaves of Hanzhang Palace near the plum trees after wandering in the gardens, a plum blossom drifted down onto her fair face, leaving a floral imprint on her forehead that enhanced her beauty further. The court ladies were said to be so impressed that they started decorating their own foreheads with

2820-572: The five branches of the government. It also serves as the logo of China Airlines , the national carrier of Taiwan (the Republic of China ). The flower is featured on some New Taiwan dollar coins. In Korea, the plum blossom is a symbol for spring. It is a popular flower motif, amongst other flowers, for Korean embroidery . Maebyong are plum vases derived from the Chinese meiping and are traditionally used to hold branches of plum blossoms in Korea. Korean ceramist Master Kim Se-yong incorporates

2880-407: The liquid may turn into plum wine . The plums can be removed after 100 days, and the syrup can be consumed right away, or mature for a year or more. In Korea, hwajeon ( 화전, 花煎 ; "flower pancake") can be made with plum blossoms. Called maehwa-jeon ( 매화전, 梅花煎 ; "plum blossom pancake"), the pancake dish is usually sweet, with honey as an ingredient. Plum liquor, also known as plum wine ,

2940-404: The miniature gardening plants of the art of penjing . Branches of plum blossoms are often arranged in porcelain or ceramic vases, such as the meiping (literally "plum vase"). These vases can hold single branches of plum blossoms and have been traditionally used to display the blossoms in a home since the early Song dynasty (960–1279). The Moy Yat lineage of Wing Chun kung fu uses

3000-497: The moist air over the Pacific meets the cooler continental air mass . The front and the formation of frontal depressions along it brings precipitation to Primorsky Krai, Japan, Korea, eastern China, and Taiwan. As the front moves back and forth depending on the strength of cool and warm air masses, there is often prolonged precipitation and sometimes flooding in eastern China . However, in the years that it does not rain as much as usual,

3060-543: The phonetic component 每 (literally meaning "every," pronounced /*mɯːʔ/ in Old Chinese , which was similar to /*mɯː/ for "plum"). In Chinese , it is called mei ( 梅 ) and the fruit is called meizi ( 梅子 ). The Japanese name is ume (kanji: 梅 ; hiragana: うめ ), while the Korean name is maesil ( Korean :  매실 ; Hanja :  梅實 ). The Japanese and Korean terms derive from Middle Chinese , in which

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3120-515: The plum blossom ( Prunus Mei ; Chinese : 梅花 ) by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China on July 21, 1964. The plum blossom is the symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity during the harsh winter. The triple grouping of stamens (three stamens per petal) on the national emblem represents Sun Yat-sen 's Three Principles of the People , while the five petals symbolize

3180-509: The plum blossom is regarded as one of the " Three Friends of Winter ", along with pine, and bamboo. The plum blossom is also regarded as one of the " Four Gentlemen " of flowers in Chinese art, together with the orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. It is one of the "Flowers of the Four Seasons", which consist of the orchid (spring), the lotus (summer), the chrysanthemum (autumn) and the plum blossom (winter). These groupings are seen repeatedly in

3240-438: The plum blossom of Solitary Hill at West Lake as his wife and the cranes of the lake as his children, thus he could live peacefully in solitude. One of his most famous poems is "Little Plum Blossom of Hill Garden" ( 山園小梅 ). The Chinese text, as well as a translation, follows: 眾芳搖落獨暄妍， 占斷風情向小園。 疏影橫斜水清淺， 暗香浮動月黃昏。 霜禽欲下先偷眼， 粉蝶如知合斷魂。 幸有微吟可相狎， 不須檀板共金樽。 When everything has faded they alone shine forth, encroaching on

3300-616: The pronunciation is thought to have been muəi . The Vietnamese name is mai or mơ (although mai vàng refers to a different plant, Ochna integerrima , in southern Vietnam). Ornamental tree varieties and cultivars of P. mume have been cultivated for planting in various gardens throughout East Asia , and for cut blossoming branches used in flower arrangements. In China, there are over 300 recorded cultivars of Prunus mume . These are classified by phylogenetics ( P. mume and two hybrids) in branches, type of branches in groups, and characteristics of flowers in several forms: It

3360-494: The rainy season tsuyu ( 梅雨 ) . The season is instead commonly called Jangma (장마) in Korea, which means "long rain". The term was originally spelled Dyangmah (댱맣) in 1500s, which was the mix of the hanja character 長 ("long") and the old native Korean word 맣 ( mah , "rain"). The word Dyangmah eventually transformed from Jyangma (쟝마) in 1700s to the current form of Jangma after the 1900s. An east–west zone of disturbed weather during spring along this front stretches from

3420-497: The third and fourth line: " This is from Lin Hejing's [Lin Bu's] plum blossom poem. Yet these lines might just as well be applied to the flowering apricot, peach, or pear. "—a comparison of the flowers with the plum blossom to which the renowned Song dynasty poet Su Dongpo ( 蘇東坡 ) replied, " Well, yes, they might. But I'm afraid the flowers of those other trees wouldn't presume to accept such praise. " Plum blossoms inspired many people of

3480-615: The tradition of viewing plum blossoms by the moonlight. The flowers are viewed and enjoyed by many as annual plum blossom festivals take place in the blooming seasons of the meihua . The festivals take place throughout China (for example, West Lake in Hangzhou and scenic spots near Zijin Mountain in Nanjing , amongst other places). Plum blossoms are often used as decoration during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and remain popular in

3540-560: Was later introduced to Japan , Korea , and Vietnam . It can be found in sparse forests, stream sides, forested slopes along trails, and mountains, sometimes at altitudes up to 1,700–3,100 m (5,600–10,200 ft), and regions of cultivation. Prunus mume is a deciduous tree that starts to flower in mid-winter, typically around January until late February in East Asia . It can grow to 4–10 m (13–33 ft) tall. The flowers are 2–2.5 cm (0.79–0.98 in) in diameter and have

3600-450: Was replicated by Japanese elites. This is supported by the fact that hanami started in urban areas rather than rural areas, that Japanese people initially admired plum blossoms like the Chinese rather than cherry blossoms, and that classic Japanese poetry does not associate cherry blossoms with merriness. The National Flower of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was officially designated as

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