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PEACH-BLOSSOM,
PLUM-BLOSSOM, ANDCINNAMON
ROSE KOREA is
the land of beautiful scenery and lovely flowers. Snow white and ruby
red are
their chief colors. In the spring time, when the ice has melted and the
rivers
have poured their floods into the sea, the whole country blushes with
the pink
bloom of azaleas. The glens are white with lilies of the valley. The
breezes,
as they sweep the land, come laden with perfume. The girls
mark the season of the year and the time of the month by the blossoms,
even
more than by the almanac, for they keep in mind the calendar of the
flowers. Daughters
that are especially beloved of their parents are named from the
blossoms, and
the Korean house-father, when affectionate, speaks of his wife as the
plum
tree. An old song says: The homesick husband, long away from his own
dear ones,
inquires of a fellow townsman newly arrived: Come tell me all you know; Did just before the old home door The plum tree blossoms show!" And the
stranger answers promptly: And sad, from waiting long for you.' " This is
like the Scotsman who calls his wife his "bonnie briar bush," for in
the Land of Morning Glow, they have a language of flowers. Each plant
and
blossom has a meaning and either delightful or disagreeable
associations. It is
a compliment to speak of a girl as a pear blossom, for the pear is one
of the
most glorious of trees and its blooms are lovely to behold. It would
hardly do,
however, to call her a cinnamon rose, for this flower has evil
associations.
The gee-sang, as the Koreans pronounce the name of the gei-sha, as the
Japanese
call the dancing girls, are associated with the cinnamon rose, for did
not the
sages tell this story? Twelve
centuries ago lived the renowned scholar Sul Chong, the greatest of all
the
learned men of Korea. His head was as full of knowledge as a persimmon
is of
pulp and his ideas were as numerous as the seeds in a pomegranate. He taught
his countrymen all that was in the books of China, and in the temple of
Confucius his portrait hangs to this day. He lived in the kingdom of
Silla, in
the days of its glory, when ships from Japan and China sailed into its
seaports
and the Arabs from Bagdad brought their pretty wares to exchange for
gold,
ginseng, camphor, porcelain, cinnamon, ginger and tiger skins, to take
to their
renowned Caliph and his turbaned nobles at court, of whom we read in
the
"Arabian Nights." When the
king of Silla, His Majesty Sin Mun, was living in luxury and filling
his palace
with too many pretty dancing girls, who distracted his mind from
attending
properly to the affairs of state, Sul Chung warned his master against
the
increasing influence of these women by telling him the following story:
Once upon
a time, in spring, the Peony, king of the flowers, blossomed so
gorgeously that
it became the admiration of all the lovers of beauty in the whole
country.
Hundreds of people made long journeys to the capital of Silla to see
the bright
blossoms. In the king's gardens, on very tall stalks, the many branches
were
heavily laden with large red flowers. These were indeed lovely to
behold, but
the king of the whole garden was a single peony, grown on one stem, so
that all
the strength and nourishment of the plant were concentrated in that
unique
royal bloom. All saluted this flower as king. When all
the other flowers heard of their king's glory, they came to pay their
respects
at the floral court, of which the peony was sovereign. All the trees
sent their
choicest blooms as envoys. In one glorious procession of perfume and
color the
Peach, Plum, Pear, Apple, and Persimmon trooped in, each making its
obeisance
to the Monarch of all flowers. All these tree blossoms prided
themselves on
their being so useful to man as harbingers of the delicious fruits to
come. Then,
among the bright throng appeared sprightly young virgin flowers, the
Tea-Rose,
in pearl-tinted frock; the Azalea, in pink; the Lily, in white; the
Strawberry
Blossom; and a score of other pretty creatures of the garden. Last of
all
appeared the Cinnamon Rose. She tripped nimbly along in a green skirt
and red
jacket, with haughty air and breath of spice. One after
the other they were presented to His Majesty, King Peony, and
gracefully made
their salute. But of them all, the king seemed most to favor Miss
Cinnamon
Flower. He let the others pass out from the Court, but lingered long
with the
spicy visitor, spending much time in her society, as if smitten with
her
charms. Neglecting his duties of state, he seemed to enjoy no other
perfume but
that which exhaled from her own body. By and by he invited Miss
Cinnamon Rose
to come and live in the palace, and leaving his ministers to carry on
the
government, he spent all his time in
her
society. She was installed in a place near His Majesty and seemed
always to
have his ear and attention, even when the king's prime minister had to
wait
long for an audience, or even a word. Miss Cinnamon Rose seemed to be
the real
ruler instead of the king himself. But one
day there came to the palace the flower called Old Man. He looked
exactly like
an aged beggar dressed in sackcloth and leaning on a staff.
Respectfully
bowing, he asked if he might share the hospitality of the king's
palace. He was
welcomed and fed, partaking of the royal bounty. When at last he was
given
audience of King Peony, and was invited to speak, he said: "Out
along the road, Your Majesty, I heard of your rich feast and good
things to
eat. Now I hear that you need medicine. Although you dress in Chinese
silk and
none are equal to you in the magnificence of your robes and the
splendor of
your Court, yet you are much like me in your wants, and you need a
common knife
string, as well as I. Is it not so?" "You
are quite right, Old Man," replied the king. "Yet I like this
Cinnamon Rose and want her with me. I cannot do without her." "Yes,
Your Majesty. Yes, is it not true that if you keep company with the
wise and
prudent, your reign will be long, powerful and glorious? But if you
consort
with the foolish your house will fall? Did not three dynasties of the
emperors
of Great China fall because of the beautiful woman who tempted their
Majesties
to forget their duties? If it were so with the ancients, how much more
so is it
now?" The king
blushed, even to a deep crimson. He confessed his faults and reformed
his life. It is said the lesson was not lost on the real human king. He dismissed his harem, sent away the dancing girls and ruled wisely till the day of his death. |