A Study Of Design Concepts In Ming Literati Books On The Art Of Flower Arrangement

The art of vase flowers is an important component of ancient Chinese flower arrangement art.In the development history of vase flower art,the Ming Dynasty was the golden period of its development.In the process of vase flower arrangement,Ming Dynasty literati played an important role.As one of the desk offerings that conveyed the thoughts of literati Lin Quan,Ming Dynasty literati applied the art of vase flowers to daily life furnishings.Scholars had unique ingenuity in selecting objects,displaying,and appreciating vase flowers.Through personal practice,they established a complete set of vase flower arrangement systems and created a series of theoretical works on vase flower art,such as Jin Run’s "vase flower genealogy",Gao Lian’s "three theories on vase flowers",Zhang Qiande’s "vase flower genealogy",and Yuan Hongdao’s "vase history".The theoretical works on the art of Ming Dynasty literati vase flower arrangement profoundly demonstrate a set of practical processes and a series of design concepts for the creation of literati vase flower arrangement art.In the process of creating vase flower art,flowers and floral vessels were the material basis of the literati’s flower arrangement creation.In the selection of flowers,the literati chose flowers according to their ranking,more in accordance with the natural order,and emphasized that the spirit of flowers was the most important factor in the selection of flowers;in the selection of floral vessels,due to the prevalence of the culture of antiquity,the literati chose vases that were "precious magnetic copper,cheap gold and silver",and the selection of floral vessels favored appropriate antiquity.In addition,in the selection of water for flower arrangement,the literati paid attention to the nourishment by rain to prolong the flower appreciation period.The literati,through a combination of subtlety,presented the vase flower artwork perfectly.With the development of economy,Jiangnan area became the main area where the literati were active in making friends.As a place for the literati to talk and appreciate the ancient times,the study room occupied an important position in the life of the literati.The literati,through clever ideas,will be vase flowers displayed in the study desk,within the living room.Ming Dynasty literati pay attention to space design,pay attention to the harmony and unity of the living room furnishings.Vase flowers as a living room furnishings,showing the "placement of suitable,elegant and appropriate characteristics of leisure.The Ming literati explored the art of vase flower arrangement through the practice of vase flower arrangement and furnishing,and raised the art of vase flower to the height of "elegance".The literati put forward a series of requirements for the flower-viewers and the flower-viewing environment,hoping to gain an epiphany of life on the basis of self-regulation.The art of vase flower is a unique art form for Ming literati to express their individuality and manifest their uniqueness.The Ming literati appreciated vase flower on the basis of the practice of vase flower arrangement and vase flower display,and created a whole set of theoretical system of vase flower art through the form of writing.It not only provided practical experience for vase flower arrangement,but also laid the theoretical foundation for the development of vase flower art in later generations.