All About Roses
By Kathleen Karlsen, MA and Ning Yeh, Ph.D.

Rose Flower Symbolism
The flower symbolism associated with roses is love, remembrance, passion (red); purity (white); happiness (pink); infidelity (yellow); unconscious beauty, I love you. Roses were first cultivated 5,000 years ago in Asian gardens. Confucius wrote that the emperor of China owned over 600 books on the cultivation of roses. Roses were introduced to Europe during the Roman Empire and were thereafter used for ornamental purposes. Roses are emblems of England and New York City.

The Meaning of Roses in Chinese Art
The rose has been in cultivation since the beginning of Chinese history. Ladies carried rose petals in their purses and gentlemen made wine and herbal medicine with the petals. Along with the name Orchid, Rose is one of the most popular names for girls in China.

For more information on flower symbolism:
Illustrated Flower Symbolism Guide
The Symbolic Meaning of Flowers
Garden Flower Symbolism and Flower Facts
Flower Symbolism and Mary Gardens 

©2008 Living Arts Enterprises LLC

References:
Yeh, Ning. An Album of Chinese Brush Painting: Eighty Paintings and Ideas. Huntington Beach, CA: Ning Yeh's Art Studio, 1986.

For Chinese brush painting supplies, please visit:
http://www.orientalartsupply.com/?afid=203

©2008 Living Arts Enterprises LLC

See a complete list of articles in our Article Library.

Article Use Policy: All content on this web site is protected by international copyright laws for intellectual property and may not be reproduced, used, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission.

Contact the author for permission to reprint articles for your own website, newsletter or other publications. Credit must be given to the author, a copyright notification must be included and a link to http://www.livingartsoriginals.com.