,Chinese 28

Paintings with these flowers are easy to find on:

fans, umbrellas, bags, and more.

The personalities these four plants exhibit are traits that are admired in Chinese culture. Artists like to pair poems with pictures of the:

Japanese plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.

Chrysanthemums signify that however harsh and unfavorable the environment is, a person needs to:

have a strong will and courage to do the right things.

Orchids come in just about every color besides:

blue and black.

Because the plum blossoms appear in winter, before any other plants, they are said to represent:

courage and perseverance in the face of adversity. They are also symbolic of nobility in Chinese art.

The blossoms of the Japanese plums range in color from white to:

yellow or red.

These four flowers are known as the "four gentlemen", and they are said to represent the essence of:

Chinese painting.

A person represented by bamboo should also be:

open-minded, like how the bamboo is hollow inside.

The chrysanthemum thrives in the fall when other plants are dying, so it is celebrated for its:

persistent personality.

Bamboo's long life makes it a symbol of longevity, and its height and strength often represent a:

person who has morals and will stand on their principles.

Cymbidium are elegant and delicate flowers that grow in:

remote valleys.

Cymbidium, also known as orchids, represent:

spring (in Chinese paintings).

Bamboo is the "gentleman" that represents:

summer.

There are four plants that appear time and time again in Chinese paintings:

the Japanese plum, orchid, bamboo and, chrysanthemum.

Orchids are believed to be clean and pure, and they symbolize:

the intellectual who is not vicious or involved in dishonest schemes.

Japanese plums are nicknamed "winter plums" because:

they flower in late January or February when it's still cold.