"I pluck chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge, And gaze afar towards the southern mountains... Within these things there is a hint of Truth, But when I start to tell it, I cannot find the words." ~ Tao Yuanming (365-427) translated by William Acker
In Asia and Western Europe, chrysanthemums have a strong dual symbolism of both life and death. Vitality, tenacity, and immortality: chrysanthemums bloom in autumn and survive the winter when most other flowers have withered from the cold. This symbol of life also represents death and mourning, often present at funerals and grave sites, perhaps linked by a wish for what was lost.
Pomegranates have an equally strong connection to life and death. The Greek goddess Persephone's story may be the most familiar: having eaten six pomegranate seeds in the underworld, she now spends half the year in darkness, and the world withdraws into winter. Pomegranates are present at rituals of both life and death, symbolizing abundance, fertility, and sexuality alongside death and loss, linked by the promise of renewal.
The ginkgo tree, native to China, turns brilliant yellow in autumn and symbolizes longevity and resilience. The trees can live over 1,000 years. They have become a modern symbol of hope and regeneration, as ginkgo trees were among the very few living things to survive the bombing of Hiroshima. Ginkgo is also used as a symbol of duality and balance between yin and yang.
Live art reveal and auction tonight 6-8pm at @artscounciloflakeoswego ðâĻðŪ
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#harvestmoon #chrysanthemum #pomegranate #ginkgo #fullmoon #papersculpture #handmadepaper #portlandartist #oregonartist #pdxartist #mixedmedia #mixedmediapainting
1 month ago
Emily Jung Miller
