When I visited Damyang Bamboo Forest with my friend Hyun Ju, I picked up some coasters depicting the Four Gracious Plants. I had heard about them from Hyun Ju before, because they are a popular theme in traditional Eastern paintings (she was an art student in college).
They are also called the Four Gentlemanly Plants, because traditionally they symbolized the four characteristics of a gentleman or learned man. Today they are more commonly associated with the four seasons. I had always thought they were beautiful and I just liked the idea. Here are my coasters:
Clockwise from the top left:
The plum blossom symbolizes courage in a gentleman, as well as spring.
Bamboo symbolizes integrity and winter.
Orchids symbolize refinement and the season of summer.
The chrysanthemum symbolizes productivity and the fall.
The first picture is from this website: http://en.cbf.net.au/Item/386.aspx which also has some interesting info and quotes about the four plants in Chinese culture.
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