THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



ent peonies were described under names that 

 allude to their origin or colour or are the names 

 of distinguished persons. 



During the Tang Dynasty (618-906 a.d.) 

 the peony acquired an extraordinary fashion and 

 commanded extremely high prices. Poets began 

 to write about it and emperors placed it under 

 their protection. The fields where it was grown 

 were consecrated by inscriptions of a religious en- 

 thusiasm. Its culture was the favourite amuse- 

 ment of the nobility, the literary and the rich. 

 Some varieties were held far above the ordinary 

 rates of barter: one kind, called Pe-Leang-Kin — 

 one hundred ounces of gold — and sold for that 

 amount, gives one an idea to what extent the 

 passion for the peony went. Some were regarded 

 as heirlooms; and not infrequently a prize plant 

 was offered as a portion of the marriage dowry. 



When the Emperor Yong-Lo of the Ming 

 Dynasty moved the court to Pekin at the end of 

 the Fourteenth Century, he commanded that peo- 

 nies be brought each year from How-Kow-ang. 

 On their arrival a solemn presentation was 

 held. This ceremony was continued for several 

 centuries. 



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