Hue's apricot blossoms are rustic yet regal.

Text and photos:Nguyen Van Tuong

Apricot blossoms are not only used for colorful decoration during the traditional Lunar New Year but also symbolize good fortune and prosperity for the year. The five petals of the apricot blossom represent the five lucky gods, the five blessings. Apricot blossoms are also considered a symbol of longevity. According to folk beliefs, a year in which the apricot blossoms bloom regularly with a bright yellow color signifies a year of abundant blessings and prosperity for the homeowner. Conversely, if the flowers wither, fall off, or the petals are small and curled, the homeowner will face difficulties and hardships.

The five petals of the plum blossom represent the five gods of good fortune, the five blessings. The plum blossom is also considered a symbol of longevity.

From folk art to the various art forms of Hue throughout history, the apricot blossom has always been a familiar theme, revered to a royal status. For the Nguyen dynasty in Hue, the apricot blossom symbolized spring, representing the dawn of the dynasty, the family lineage, and a time of peace and prosperity. Therefore, the image of the apricot blossom appears frequently on temples, palaces, and ancient artifacts in Hue.

From a visual perspective, symbolic images of plum blossoms appear on various materials and using different techniques. Unlike in China, in Hue, the plum blossom is the first in the four seasons (plum blossom - lotus - chrysanthemum - bamboo). In this, the plum blossom symbolizes spring; the lotus - summer; the chrysanthemum - autumn; and the bamboo - winter. The plum blossom also heads the four precious plants (plum blossom - orchid - chrysanthemum - bamboo). Furthermore, the plum blossom is associated with various artistic designs: plum blossom and the character for longevity, plum blossom and crane, plum blossom and bird, plum blossom and stone… These all carry many auspicious meanings such as longevity, happiness, nobility, and purity.

At the Thái Hòa Palace, plum blossoms appear on the main hall's eaves in a stucco design of plum blossoms and birds. Plum blossoms are also present on the roof of the Thế Tổ Temple in a four-season design painted with pigments and depicted in a mosaic of intertwined flowers on the outer surface of the foundation of the largest temple in the ancient capital. At the Diên Thọ Palace, plum blossoms are found on the screen in front of the main hall with a plum blossom and stone design, and in the four-season design on the eaves of the main hall of the Diên Thọ Palace, using a combination of stucco and painted techniques. Similarly, at the Long An Palace (now the Hue Imperial Antiquities Museum), a relatively well-preserved palace built during the reign of Emperor Thiệu Trị, is considered a masterpiece and one of the most beautiful palaces of the ancient Hue Imperial City.

Additionally, plum blossoms are featured in the decorative panels on Hien Nhan Mon Gate and Truong An Mon Gate through mosaic art using colored ceramics and glass, depicting plum blossoms symbolizing longevity and plum blossoms with birds.

Currently, the Hue Imperial Antiquities Museum houses thousands of Nguyen Dynasty artifacts made from various materials with diverse and rich decorative motifs. Among them, designs such as plum blossoms and cranes, plum blossoms symbolizing longevity, and plum blossoms, orchids, chrysanthemums, and bamboo are commonly found on enamelware, bronze, porcelain, wooden, and silver objects. Particularly noteworthy is the Kim Chi Ngoc Diep (Golden Branch and Jade Leaves) set, with a gilded wooden trunk, white glass flowers, and light green jade leaves, displayed in an enamel pot. Around the base of the plum tree are other herbs including orchids, chrysanthemums, and bamboo, forming a set of four auspicious plants, but the aesthetic centerpiece of this arrangement remains the plum tree.

In particular, there is a tea plate made of blue-glazed porcelain, decorated with a crane standing beside an old plum tree and two lines of Nôm poetry that are believed to be a keepsake from Nguyễn Du's diplomatic mission to the Qing dynasty: "Wandering leisurely enjoying the peaceful scenery / Plum blossom is an old friend, crane is an acquaintance."

Beyond its symbolic elegance, the apricot blossom is also prominently featured in the decorative art of palaces, tombs, pavilions, temples, and treasures, creating a vibrant world full of animals, plants, and flowers.

Beyond its symbolic elegance, the apricot blossom is also prominently featured in the decorative art of palaces, tombs, pavilions, temples, and treasures, creating a vibrant world full of animals, plants, and flowers.

The Thanh