Historical Evolution And Structural Analysis Of Baoxiang Flower Pattern

Baoxiang flower pattern was an important part in the history of Chinese plant patterns. Itis an flower decorative pattern with unique national style, reflecting the important culturalphenomenon under characteristics of the times. Baoxiang flower was not the natural flowersin reality, but the Utopian floral pattern in Buddhist art, produced from the Buddhist activitiesand widely used in the field of art and craft which were non Buddhist.These show thatBuddhist art had gradually trended toward common customs in Chinese localization process,and became typical representative in the transition of plant patterns in Tang dynasty. Relyingon its rich imagination and creativity, loved by the people, the decorative patterns also hadeffect on the entire period and the song, yuan, Ming, Qing Dynasty. Therefore the analysis ofits development, evolution, and other analysis could help to make the past serve the present.The prototype of Baoxiang flower was the lotus pattern. When lotus pattern with thesymbolic meaning of auspicious developed to the most abundant gorgeous pattern, it hadbeen the so-called Baoxiang flower patterns. This essay start from the source of theprototype: lotus flower, and analyze traditional culture of local lotus and the important roleof foreign culture on transform and development from local lotus pattern to Baoxiang flowerpattern.The common influence of western and Chinese culture formed the pattern, showingthe great openness and creativity of Chinese culture. This essay can be divided into threeparts, and the first part: The research on the local origin of the Baoxiang flower pattern. Fromthe development of Chinese plant pattern without the external cultural influences duringprimitive society to Qin and Han Dynasties. We can find that lotus pattern had appeared asa decorative pattern and under the influence of traditional culture,“十”shaped pattern and“米” shaped patter had been deep-seated. We can see the clue of Baoxiang flower patternfrom lotus pattern combining with traditional cloud pattern. The second part: The form offlower pattern under the influence of foreign culture during Wei Jin Southern and NorthernDynasties to Sui, Tang Dynasties. From the point of development in Chinese plant pattern,we could see that the introduction of foreign culture enriched Chinese plant pattern and hadstarted to occupy the dominant position. Combination of honeysuckle, pomegranate and otherelements make lotus patterns tend to be magnificent, no longer confined to the simple valve profile. The continuous grafting of the elements on Lotus structure formed Baoxiang flowerpattern. The third part: The analysis of designs of Baoxiang flower in Tang Dynasty,including the effect of honeysuckle, pomegranate, moire,peony on the petal shape., and thecombined way of the unit petal of Baoxiang flower pattern in the structure of "十" mode andcircular radiating. The characteristics of it had gradually transformed to the Chinese peonyflower and realistic style after Mid Tang Dynasty. At last, The summarize of the completeevolution of Baoxiang flower pattern.The history of Baoxiang flower pattern reflect the cautious attitude of ancient Chinese.They did not blindly accept all the foreign culture but innovate a unique form which based ontheir inherent foundation and adapted the form to their own culture. The pattern also had agreat influence at the time and it deserve for promoting and learning.