Broad Spectrum Class:

Qi Jian Bai Mo, Jin Zui Qi Mo, Little pink, Drachenfels, Ri Xiang, Yin Tuo, Jin Zui Bai La Su, Shan Cheng Lv, Yin Bian Ren Hua Bai, Pu Ning Bai Mo Xian, Xian Yi Shi Ba Jiao, Bai Yu Su Jin, Yu Huang Mei, Zhen Shan Mei, Yue Mei, Si Ji Mei, Yin Feng, Xia Shan Mei, Shan Dian, Yin Bian Da Rong, Da He Su, Jin Si Ma Wei, Feng Lai Chao, Su Hua Xian Yi, Rui Yu, Rui Bao, Si Ji Shui Xian (narcissus), Chao Xiao Xing, Xia Shan Lan Bai, Si Ji San Li, Ban Yi, Tai Ping Yang, Yu Nv, Yin Bian Qi Hei, Da Mo, Wei Zhou, Tie Jiao Da Qing.

Rare Class:

A. Da Hong Mei, Zhong Ai Da He, Yue Mei, Ming Shan Xian Zi, Han Yu and over 20 other unnamed species. 

B.  E Niao Lan, Fu Cai, Chines Prince, Sheng Shi Zhong Hua, Jin Tai Yang, She Da, Jin Fei Cui and over 20 other unnamed species. (by Guo Zhilun)

C. Cai Die, Shan Xian Bai Mo Yi, Jin Zhou Hong He, Die Si Ji, Xian Yi Bo Zi To. (by Han Zhicheng)

Exported Class:

Qi Hei, Jin Zui, Yin Bian, Bai Mo, Little Pink

Orchid Cultivation History

Orchid is general name for Arethusa with multiple species. The one ‘Orchid’ introduced in the book is especially is produced widely cultivated genus in China, which are Cymbidium Goeringii, Cymbidium Faberi, Cymbidium Esifolium, Cymbidium Kanran, Cymbidium Sinense, Lian Bian Lan, Chun Jian, and considered as Chinese Orchid.

Chinese Orchid is the famous ornamental flower in China, over the thousands years with its unique fragrance, elegant postures, and its four season’s green leaves, outstanding among other flowers, so that’s why it is exceptionally loved by chines people. Chinese orchid has long history, with its earliest record in Yi Copulative two thousand years ago, in which there was famous sentence extracted from it: if two people with common ideas and virtues, it was like smelling the fragrance of orchid. Though it was not sure that the orchid recorded in the book was the one we talked about, it was true that Chinese orchid has long planting history in China.  

According to the historical record, the nowadays Chinese orchid planting can be tracked back to Tang Dynasty. In late Tang Dynasty the poet Tang Yanqian praised orchid in the poetry Chanting Orchid that “the breeze blowing the green leaves of orchid, on which the dew drops sticking and looked like clear jades; the fair lady stopping sewing, and the fragrant orchids growing in the deep valley; most talented youths came from the loyal families, and there are Cyperus rotundus among orchids; I suddenly saw the orchids, and thought how would it become at the end of year.” Thus, from the description for the plants features in the poetry, we can predict that it should be the Chinese Orchid. In late Tang Dynasty Yang Xie on his work On planting Orchid introducing the experience that it should not be planted with night soil of human beings like other plants, or else it would be rotten, which is the earliest record on planting orchids. In addition, there was record on planting orchids in Wang Moji’s saying that planting the orchids in yellow porcelain, cultivating it with small stones and keeping it year by year. There was record in Guo Tuo’s work Planting Trees saying Orchid was afraid of dampness, and should not be watered. So from these records, we can see that the planting on orchids was very popular in Tang Dynasty. 

In Song Dynasty, orchids were planted widely and there were many books related to orchid published, such as the Secluded Orchid Pavilion, in which it stated that “the two kinds of orchids “Lan and Hui” were easy to cultivate, even planted them in the dinas, and they could grow prosperously; if got watered, they grew fragrant flowers, which was the common points between them. Until they blossomed, one stem of the “Lan” grew on piece of flower, but with strong fragrance, while one stem of the “Hui” grew five pieces of flowers, but with rarely fragrance.” which was the earliest record for orchids classification. And there was more detailed record on Ben Cao Yan Yi (Explanation on Chines Materia Medica): “leaves of orchids are wide and tenacious, with its length of one to two Chi (i.e. about 33.3cm to 66.6cm), which are green in four seasons, and its flowers are yellow and green with some dotted purple colors in the middle; the orchid blossoms in Spring is called Cymbidium Goeringii with deep color, and the one blossoms in Autumn is called Cymbidium Ensifolium with light color.”

There was reference on the book Replying Rhyming on Wen Bo Planting Orchids written by poet Fan Chengda that “cultivating orchids with moss in order to blow off the dust”, which is the similar purpose that like nowadays people planting grass on the surface of basin to cultivate orchids. In late South Song Dynasty, with the development of orchid planting, the earliest two books on introducing orchids were published respectively, i.e. Jin Zhang Treatise on Orchid Planting by Zhao Shigeng (in 1233), Orchid Book by Wang Guixue (in 1247), in which they specifically observed the orchids in Fujian and Guangdong area, such its species, cultivation, fertilizer, irrigation, transplant, division, soil texture, which are also the world’s earliest books relating to orchid introductions.

After Yuan Dynasty, orchid planting had entered into the prosperous period. In the novel Zhi Zheng Zhi Ji（narration on planting orchid） written by Kong Jinwen in Yuan Dynasty which stated that besides in Guangdong and Fujian, there was also orchid planting in Jiangxi, Zhejiang, which was emphasized by society. In the book it stated that “orchid loves clear weather instead of strong sunshine, loves shade instead of dampness, loves tranquility and dryness instead of burning sun, loves moistening instead of watering, and was adapt to vigorous leaves but overdue prosperous leaves”， “it is better to plant orchid under the shade of bamboos, which means the orchid loves clear weather instead of burning sunshine, and loves serene instead of remoteness”, all these description stated the orchid’s habitual nature and planting essentials, which has great influence on modern planting ways and provided valuable reference for nowadays planting orchids.  

There were more books related to planting orchids, such as Miscellaneous Talks on Gardening Orchids by Wang Shimao, in which it stated that orchid should be separated by night soil of human beings and put water under the basin to keep the invasion of pests, rats, earth worm, ants. In Compendium of Materia Medica by Li Shizhen, it stated that “orchids can also grow in the mountain, but is different from other thoroughwort; the orchid grows in Jinchi, whose leaves are like the tuber of dwarf lilyturf and called Cymbidium Goeringii; the one grows in Fujian, whose leaves are like villous themeda and called Cymbidium Ensifolium”，which not only explained the difference between orchid and other orchid like grasses, but also the difference of Cymbidium Goeringii and Cymbidium Ensifolium. In the book Eight Discourses on Living by Gao Lian in Ming Dynasty it collected lots of mysterious ways on planting orchids, such as Mysterious ways on Planting Orchids, Four Forbidden Conducts on Planting Orchids, Revised Poetry Rhymed Formula on Planting Orchid Month by Month from Ya Shang Zhai. In addition, there were other important works related to orchid planting, such as Luo Liwen’s Introduction on Orchid by Zhang Yingwen (in 1596), Mysterious Ways of Orchid Book by Zhou Lvjing (in 1597), Treatise on Orchid by Lu Tingweng, Twelve Scrolls of Treatise on Orchid and Orchid History by Dian Xizi.

It was the flourishing period for planting orchid in Qing Dynasty. In this period, there were detailed records on gardening orchids, such as Flower Mirror by Chen Haozi, Flowers Encyclopedia by Wang Hao. Along with more and more books on planting orchids and new gardening being created, more and more gardeners on planting orchids showing up, who wrote many valuable works on planting orchids based on previous planting experience. Which mainly were Notes on Gardening Orchids by Bao Weisheng in early Qing Dynasty, Discussion on Orchid (1695-1709), Notes on The First Fragrance by Zhu Rouke (in 1796), Orchid Mirror by Tao Yongning (in 1811), The Secret of Success on Planting Orchid by Wu Chuanyun (in 1811), General Introduction on Planting Orchid by Zhang Guanzhao (n 1816), Shared Records on Orchids by Xu Jilou (in 1865), Narration on Orchid by Yuan Shijun (in 1876), Theory on Planting Orchid by Yue Liang (in 1890), Narration on Orchid by Yuan Yijiang, Introduction on Orchid of Ling Hai by Ou Jince. Among them, it was Notes on Gardening Orchids by Bao Weisheng which was the first time to discuss the petal on orchids; it was Narration on Orchid by Yuan Yijiang which further listed out the gardening orchid species of plum, lotus, narcissus, labellum with total of 98 types; it was Shared Records on Orchids by Xu Jilou which was the first time to attach the orchids collections of illustration with sketch and illustration for the traditional famous orchids, which were so practical and attracting. 

In 20th century, the relatively famous works on orchids were Historiette on Orchids by Wu Enyuan (in 1923), Narration on Dumen Orchids by Yu Zhao (in 1929), Ways on Planting Orchids by Xia Yibing (in 1930), Orchid by Yao Yuqiu and Zhu Youren (in 1959), Xiamen Orchids Record by Yan Chujiang (in 1964), Orchids by Shen Yuanru and Shen Yinchun (in 1984), China Orchids by Wu Yingxiang (in 1991, 1993). 

Among them, Historiette on Orchids by Wu Enyuan was attached with the missing famous species sketch and the pictures of the current popular orchids, and had comprehensive discussion on orchid petals and cultivating managements, which was first book with details and completions on orchid introduction in China. In Xiamen Orchids Record by Yan Chujiang, it was the first time to study and describe orchid’s morphology with prudent scientific attitudes. Orchids by Shen Yuanru and Shen Yinchun was compiled scientifically with pictures and introductions, as well as precise and appropriate introductions on famous orchids, which provided valuable reference. China Orchids by Wu Yingxiang was written with scientific prudence, as well as a mile stone in Chinese orchid platymiscium study, deeply loved by orchid fans, and contributed a lot on Chinese orchid promotion and development.

Besides, since 1990s, lots of books and magazines on orchid planting appeared with more than hundred types, which mainly were Essential Narration National Orchid by Wu Yingxiang (in 1998), Orchid by Wu Yingxiang and Wu Hanzhu (in 1999), Orchid (in 1991) and Chinese and Overseas Orchids by Liu Qingyong (in 1992), Orchid by Pan Guanhua (in 1999), Three Hundred Questions on Chinese Orchids by Ding Yongkang (in 1999), Chinese Orchid and Western Orchid by Lu Sicong (in 1998), Orchids in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Inspection on Orchids by Guan Wenchang and Zhu Hexing (in 1999), Essays on Orchids by Yang Tiaoqing (in 2004), Collection of Illustrations on Pests Prevention and Disease Treatment for Orchids by Chen Furu in 2006), Unique Skills on Planting Orchids by Zhang Bingfu and Shi Zongyi. The above number of works related to orchids has substantially exceeds the total number since the book Jin Zhang’s Collectin of Illustration on Orchid (in1233) written in Song Dynasty during the past over 700 years. Since Chinese Flowers and Plants Association Orchid Sub-branch was established in 1987, it invested a lot on propaganda construction. Since 1992, a magazine Chinese Orchid (bimonthly) was launched in Guangdong, each issue was published on time and never suspended ever, which has taken an important stake in Chinese orchid industry.

In 21st century, there are regular and non-regular magazines published, such as Essential Guidelines on Orchid, Orchid Centre, Orchids, Orchids World, Orchids. In 2000, Chinese Orchids Website was created by Chinese Flowers and Plants Association Orchid Sub-branch in Guangdong Shantou. Later on, many orchid websites and web pages were created in different provinces and cities in China, which has caused positive efforts on orchid promotion and development. Since 1980s, the development of Chinese orchids has entered into a more prosperous period, because there were more different kinds of books on orchids published, more different kinds of orchids species cultivated, more people interested in orchids, and more trading on orchids in the market, all of which have exceeded those in the previous eras. It is the best time to cultivate orchids in the flourishing age, and the peaceful county with people at ease. So let us all look out into 21st century, the development of orchids will get better tomorrow.