The four gentlemen of painting and calligraphy refer to

"Four Gentlemen" refers to plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum in Chinese painting.

In ancient Chinese paintings, especially flower-and-bird paintings, there are quite a few works with this theme, which are often used by literati to express lofty and vulgar interests: integrity, modesty and pure thoughts and feelings, so they are called "gentlemen".

1, Mei.

Plum blossom is the first of the top ten famous flowers in China. With orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums, they are listed as four gentlemen, and with pine and bamboo, they are also called "three friends of the old cold". In the traditional culture of China, Mei gives people an incentive to work hard with her noble, strong and modest personality. In the cold, before the flowers bloom, the world is lonely, and spring has come.

2. Ian

Orchids, since the Song Dynasty, generally refer to local orchids. Orchids, herbs, Hui and lavender are also (herbs). Orchids are Eupatorium odoratum of Compositae and Eupatorium adenophorum of Ranunculaceae, and may be Lilium brownii of Compositae. Since the Song Dynasty, orchids refer to local orchids.

3. bamboo.

Bamboo is also called bamboo. Perennial Gramineae Bambusoideae, with woody stems, is a branch of Gramineae and the fastest growing plant in the world, which is most concentrated in tropical and subtropical regions, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean and Pacific islands.

4. Chrysanthemum.

Chrysanthemum is one of the top ten famous flowers in China, one of the four gentlemen among flowers (Prunus mume) and one of the four cut flowers in the world (chrysanthemum, rose, carnation and gladiolus), with the highest yield. Because chrysanthemums are cold and snowy.

Chrysanthemum is a valuable ornamental flower cultivated by long-term artificial selection. It was introduced to Japan from China as an ornamental chrysanthemum around the eighth century. At the end of 17, Dutch merchants introduced China chrysanthemum to Europe, to France in 18 and to North America in the middle of 19. Since then, chrysanthemums in China have spread all over the world.