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Lot Essay
The begonia (qiuhaitang) has long been an esteemed garden plant in China, often planted on rockwork and used as ground-cover in small areas of shade. It is associated with feminine qualities because of its preference for cool, shady places, and there is a legend that a spot watered by the tears of a woman deserted by her lover suddenly sprouted begonias to console her.
The sound tang in the name of the begonia (qiuhaitang) was probably intended to evoke the idiomatic expression yutang fugui ("[May your] magnificent hall [be filled with] riches"). The begonia is commonly linked to the magnolia (yulan) to elicit the sound of the first half of this expression. The peony, "the king of flowers," represents prosperity, and is associated with the upper classes of society.
The sound tang in the name of the begonia (qiuhaitang) was probably intended to evoke the idiomatic expression yutang fugui ("[May your] magnificent hall [be filled with] riches"). The begonia is commonly linked to the magnolia (yulan) to elicit the sound of the first half of this expression. The peony, "the king of flowers," represents prosperity, and is associated with the upper classes of society.