The daffodils have bloomed, and now it is the azaleas’ turn. Of the genus rhododendron, the plant was appreciated by the ancient Chinese, Japanese, and Greek people and later in Victorian England, and across Europe. The abundant and colorful flowers were used to adorn altars in ancient Greece. The name comes from the Greek word azeleos, meaning dry. In 1735, Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus applied the name to the plant for its preference to grow in dry soil. The azalea’s beauty and bounty and its ability to flourish in dry conditions provide the basis for its symbolism.
Azaleas have been appreciated in China since the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The Chinese word for azalea and cuckoo, dujuan, is the same because they were seen during the same season. The two frequently are depicted together, as in this print. One story tells of a victorious and powerful emperor who was lonely. When he was given an azalea plant, he was dazzled by its beauty and happiness ensued. In another tale, the cuckoo cried day and night, and it spat blood that colored the azalea blossoms red. Du Yu, emperor of Wang Shu, was a good leader, but he was betrayed and transformed into a cuckoo, allowing him to continue as a protective spirit for his people. The red azalea became a symbol of passion, love, luck, happiness, and energy.
The popular poet Du Fu (712-770) of the Tang dynasty saw beautiful azaleas on a trip far from home. His poems referred to the plant as the “thinking of home bush,” a new and popular association.
“Cuckoo and Azaleas” (1828) (10’’x7’’) an ukiyo-e woodcut by the famous Japanese artist Hokusai (1760-1849), combines the same images. The azalea was cultivated in Japan beginning in the Edo period (1603-1868). As in China, massive azalea gardens were planted and azalea festivals were held and continue today. The inscription at the left of the print is a quotation from Yang Wanli, a Chinese poet of the Song dynasty (960-1279): “A single cuckoo by day splits the mountain bamboo, with an initial cry upon first hearing about Du Yu.” The lines refer to the cry of the cuckoo heard at the death of the Chinese general Du Yu. Hokusai’s print links the legends of China to Japan.
In Japan the azalea is called wabi-sabi, meaning beauty in impermanence. Japanese poets in the 8th Century wrote that the blooming flower was a metaphor for hidden love; the blossoms appear on branches before the leaves appear. The blossoms serve as messengers of Spring. Azaleas often were planted along winding paths in Japanese gardens, inspiring walkers to meditate.
Azaleas were introduced in England in the 19th Century. They became part of Victorian floriography, the language of flowers. Skilled nurserymen cultivated azalea plants during the harsh winters in heated glasshouses. The wealthy few could afford azaleas, and they became symbols of wealth, refined elegance, femininity, and temperance. “Azaleas” (1868) (78”x40’’) was painted by the popular English artist Albert Joseph Moore (1841-1893). He was known for his depiction of delicate and beautiful women in classical robes and placed before decorative floral backgrounds. The white flowers in this work represent purity, innocence, and civility.
A symbol of patience and self-control, the azalea was adopted by the English temperance societies in the 19th Century. The Victorians carried around azaleas to signify their support of prohibition.
“Pink Azaleas in a Chinese Vase” (1880) (24”x20”) was painted by American artist William Merrit Chase (1849-1916). Primarily a portrait and landscape painter, Chase painted at least 120 still lifes, ten of which were of flowers. Two were azaleas. He trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and later at the National Academy of Fine Arts in New York. “Pink Azaleas in a Chinese Vase” combines the beauty of the azalea blossoms with their Chinese origin. Azaleas are non-native plants that were introduced from Southeast Asia in the 1830s. The blue and white porcelain vase, Canton ware, arrived sometime in the 1840s. Chase was a collector of Asian artifacts. They filled his home and studio, and they were depicted in his paintings. His ability to paint the light that shines on the white porcelain is notable. The vase of flowers is set slightly off- center, another influence of Japanese art. Chase also was influenced by Impressionism. The delicate touch of his brush can be seen in the painting of the pink blossoms. The pink azalea is the symbol of gentleness, admiration, romance, and feminine grace.
Note: The Azalea Society of America was founded on December 9, 1977, at Brookside Gardens in Silver Spring, Maryland, and it declared April to be Azalea Month.
