8i 



The Tree Peoxv (Pcronia Moitta)t, Sims) 



The Chinese in 536 A. D. distinguished two kinds of peonies in a 

 general way : the Sho Yo or common kind, which we now know 

 as P. albiftora; and the Alow Tan or improved kind, which we 

 recognize as P. nwutan. In the flower gardens the Mow Tans 

 claimed first place in point of beauty, and the Sho Yos took second 

 place. For this reason, the former were often called Hwa Wang, 

 " King of Flowers," and the latter Hwa Seang, " The King's 

 Ministers."' An ancient Chinese author. Hung King (Dickson, 

 1849), writing in 536 A. D., states that the original native country 

 of the moutan is the valley of Fa Keun in the district of Hang 

 Chung, in the easterly part of the province of See Chuen, and 

 the neighboring south part of Shen Se, or the country about the 

 two rivers, Kea Lin Keang and Han Keang. Soo King, a writer 

 on natural philosophy, announces in 656 that the district of Hang 

 Chung is the native home of the tree peony, thus corroborating 

 the account of Hung King in 536. 



Up to about 6co A. D. the peony had been used more for its 

 medicinal qualities, but about this time, during the reign of the 

 Emperor Yang Tee, tree peonies were introdviced into gardens 

 as ornamental plants, and at once sprang into favor. An old 

 Chinese book on the " Origin of Matters and Objects " states that 

 by 713 the number of kinds had greatly increased and the plant 

 was found about the huts of the poor as well as about the mansions 

 of the rich. 



Soon after this, a genealogical register was established by Gow 

 Yang Sew, in which to record the characters, qualities, and parent- 

 age of the kinds which appeared from seed. About this time, 

 (724) in the reign of the Mikado Seimu, many of these peonies 

 were taken to Japan, where they were called Botan, and at once 

 sprang into great favor as ornamental plants. Their popularity 

 in Japan has continued up to the present time. Here the culture 

 of the Botan for medicinal purposes soon became an independent 

 industry. The provinces Yamisiro and Yamato furnished large 

 supplies of the root bark to the market, while the district of Nara 

 in Yomata was especially famous for its flowering plants, some 

 of which sold for one hundred ounces of silver each. 



In 1656, the Dutch East India Company sent an embassy to 

 China to explore the country for articles of trade and to make an 

 eft^^ort to open up the country to international trade. This em- 

 bassy was granted freer access to China than was granted to subse- 



