Ancient "five flowers" refers to what ah?

The earliest references are to the Five Flowers Formation and Eight Gates Formation in the Art of War, both of which are highly variable and untraceable formations.

Later the metaphor referred to all walks of life.

Five Flowers:

Golden Chrysanthemum - a metaphor for a woman who sells tea.

Kapok Flower - a metaphor for a bone-setter who goes out on the street to cure people.

Daffodil - a metaphor for a singer in a restaurant.

Firethorn flower - a metaphor for a juggler.

The earth cow flower - a metaphor for some pickers.

Eight doors:

One scarf - fortune-telling and divination.

Second Gate Pi - seller of herbs.

Three doors of color - jugglers.

The fourth door hangs - the jianghu seller.

Fifth Gate Commentary - a book-teller and commentator.

Sixth Gate Tuan - a street singer.

Seventh Gate Tunes - those who set up scaffolding and tie paper.

Eight Gate Chat - those who sing opera on high platforms.

Short for scarf, skin, color, hanging, flat, group, tune, chat, is called "eight doors".

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