Prunus mume

Last updated

Contents

Prunus mume
Prunus mume.JPG
Prunus mume blossoms
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Prunus subg. Prunus
Section: Prunus sect. Armeniaca
Species:
P. mume
Binomial name
Prunus mume
(Siebold) Siebold & Zucc.
Synonyms
  • Armeniaca mumeSiebold
  • Armeniaca mume var. albaCarrière
  • Armeniaca mume var. alphandiiCarrière
  • Armeniaca mume var. pubicaulinaC. Z. Qiao & H. M. Shen
  • Armeniaca mume f. pendula(Siebold) H. Ohba & S. Akiyama
  • Prunopsis mume(Siebold) André
  • Prunus makinoensisLév.
  • Prunus mume formosanaMasam. ex Kudô & Masam.
  • Prunus mume microcarpaMakino
  • Prunus mume var. alboplenaL. H. Bailey
  • Prunus mume var. laciniataMaxim.
  • Prunus mume var. pendulaSiebold
  • Prunus mume var. roseaIngram
  • Prunus mume var. tonsaRehder
  • Prunus mume f. alba(Carrière) Rehder
  • Prunus mume f. alboplena(L. H. Bailey) Rehder
  • Prunus mume f. alphandii(Carrière) Rehder

Prunus mume is a Chinese tree species classified in the Armeniaca section of the genus Prunus subgenus Prunus. Its common names include Chinese plum, [2] [3] [4] Japanese plum, [5] and Japanese apricot. The flower, long a beloved subject in the traditional painting and poetry of Sinospheric countries (including China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan), is usually called plum blossom. [6] This distinct tree species is related to both the plum and apricot trees. [7] Although generally referred to as a plum in English, it is more closely related to the apricot. [8] In East Asian cuisine (Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese cuisine), the fruit of the tree is used in juices, as a flavouring for alcohol, as a pickle, and in sauces. It is also used in traditional medicine.

The tree's flowering in late winter and early spring is highly regarded as a seasonal symbol.

Prunus mume should not be confused with Prunus salicina , a related species also grown in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Another tree, Prunus japonica , is also a separate species despite having a Latin name similar to Prunus mume's common name.

Origin

Prunus mume originated in the region around the Yangtze River in southern China and was cultivated domestically for both its ornamental beauty and its fruit. [9] [10] [11] It was later introduced to Japan, [12] Korea, and Vietnam. It can be found in sparse forests, stream sides, forested slopes along trails, and mountains, sometimes at altitudes up to 1,700–3,100 m (5,600–10,200 ft), and regions of cultivation. [13]

Description

Prunus mume is a deciduous tree that starts to flower in mid-winter, typically around January until late February in East Asia. It can grow to 4–10 m (13–33 ft) tall. [13] The flowers are 2–2.5 cm (0.79–0.98 in) in diameter and have a strong fragrant scent. [13] They have colors in varying shades of white, pink, and red. [14] The leaves appear shortly after the petals fall, are oval-shaped with a pointed tip, and are 4–8 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide. [13] The fruit ripens in early summer, around June and July in East Asia, and coincides with the East Asian rainy season, the meiyu (梅雨, "plum rain"). [15] The drupe is 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) in diameter with a groove running from the stalk to the tip. [13] The skin turns yellow, sometimes with a red blush, as it ripens, and the flesh becomes yellow. The tree is cultivated for its fruit and flowers. [2] [16]

Names

The scientific name combines the Latin prūnus (“plum tree”) and the obsolete Japanese 梅 (mume, “plum”). The plant is known by a number of different names in English, including Chinese plum [2] and Japanese apricot. An alternative name is ume or mume. [2] Another alternative name is mei. [13] [17]

The flower is known as the meihua (梅花) in Chinese, which came to be translated as "plum blossom" [18] or sometimes as "flowering plum". [19] The term "winter plum" may be used too, specifically with regard to the depiction of the flower with its early blooming in Chinese painting.[ citation needed ]

In Chinese, it is called mei () and the fruit is called meizi (梅子). The Japanese name is ume (kanji: ; hiragana: うめ), while the Korean name is maesil (Korean :  매실 ; Hanja :  梅實 ). The Japanese and Korean terms derive from Middle Chinese, in which the pronunciation is thought to have been muəi. [20] The Vietnamese name is mai or (although mai vàng refers to a different plant, Ochna integerrima , in southern Vietnam).[ citation needed ]

Varieties

Phylogenetic tree and ten representative traits Phylogenetic tree and ten representative traits of 348 mei accessions.jpg
Phylogenetic tree and ten representative traits

Ornamental tree varieties and cultivars of P. mume have been cultivated for planting in various gardens throughout East Asia, and for cut blossoming branches used in flower arrangements.[ citation needed ]

Chinese varieties

In China, there are over 300 recorded cultivars of Prunus mume. [21] These are classified by phylogenetics (P. mume and two hybrids) in branches, type of branches in groups, and characteristics of flowers in several forms: [21]

It is disputed whether Prunus zhengheensis (Chinese :政和杏) is a separate species [22] or conspecific with Prunus mume. [23] It is found in the Fujian province of China. It is only known from one county, Zhenghe. It is a tree 35–40 m (110–130 ft) tall, preferring to grow at 700–1,000 m (2,300–3,300 ft) above sea level. The yellow fruit is delectable and aside from its height, it is indistinguishable from P. mume.

Japanese varieties

In Japan, ornamental Prunus mume cultivars are classified into yabai (wild), hibai (red), and bungo (Bungo Province) types. The bungo trees are also grown for fruit and are hybrids between Prunus mume and apricot. The hibai trees have red heartwood and most of them have red flowers. The yabai trees are also used as grafting stock. Among yabai trees, Nankoume is a very popular variety in Japan, [24] and whose fruits are mainly used for making Umeboshi.

Uses

Culinary use

Beverage

In China, suanmeitang (酸梅湯; "sour plum juice") is made from smoked plums, called wumei (烏梅). [25] The plum juice is extracted by boiling smoked plums in water and sweetened with sugar to make suanmeitang. [25] It ranges from light pinkish-orange to purplish black in colour and often has a smoky and slightly salty taste. It is traditionally flavoured with sweet osmanthus flowers, and is enjoyed chilled, usually in summer.[ citation needed ]

In Korea, both the flowers and the fruits are used to make tea. Maehwa-cha (매화차, 梅花茶; "plum blossom tea") is made by infusing the flowers in hot water. Maesil-cha (매실차, 梅實茶; "plum tea") is made by mixing water with maesil-cheong (plum syrup) and is served either hot or cold.[ citation needed ]

In Japan, a similar drink is made from green plums and tastes sweet and tangy, is considered a cold, refreshing drink, and is often enjoyed in the summer.[ citation needed ]

Condiment

A thick, sweet Chinese sauce called meijiang (梅醬) or meizijiang (梅子醬), usually translated as "plum sauce", is also made from the plums, [18] along with other ingredients such as sugar, vinegar, salt, ginger, chili, and garlic. Similar to duck sauce, it is used as a condiment for various Chinese dishes, including poultry dishes and egg rolls.[ citation needed ]

In Korea, maesil-cheong (매실청, 梅實淸, "plum syrup"), an anti-microbial syrup made by sugaring ripe plums, is used as a condiment and sugar substitute. It can be made by simply mixing plums and sugar together, and then leaving them for about 100 days. [26] To make syrup, the ratio of sugar to plum should be at least 1:1 to prevent fermentation, by which the liquid may turn into plum wine. [27] The plums can be removed after 100 days, and the syrup can be consumed right away, or mature for a year or more. [26]

Flower pancake

Maehwa-jeon Maehwajeon.jpg
Maehwa-jeon

In Korea, hwajeon (화전, 花煎; "flower pancake") can be made with plum blossoms. Called maehwa-jeon (매화전, 梅花煎; "plum blossom pancake"), the pancake dish is usually sweet, with honey as an ingredient.[ citation needed ]

Liquor

Plum liquor, also known as plum wine, is popular in both Japan and Korea, and is also produced in China. Umeshu (梅酒; "plum wine") is a Japanese alcoholic drink made by steeping green plums in shōchū (clear liquor). It is sweet and smooth. A similar liquor in Korea, called maesil-ju (매실주, 梅實酒; "plum wine"), is marketed under various brand names, including Mae hwa soo, Matchsoon, and Seoljungmae. Both the Japanese and Korean varieties of plum liquor are available with whole plum fruits contained in the bottle. In China, plum wine is called méijiǔ (梅酒).[ citation needed ]

In Taiwan, a popular 1950s innovation over the Japanese-style plum wine is the wumeijiu (烏梅酒; "smoked plum liquor"), which is made by mixing two types of plum liquor, meijiu (梅酒) made of P. mume and lijiu (李酒), made of P. salicina , and oolong tea liquor. [28]

In Vietnam, ripe plums are macerated in sticky rice liquor. The resulting liquor is called rượu mơ . A brand selling plum liquor is Sơn Tinh.[ citation needed ]

Pickled and preserved plums

In Chinese cuisine, plums pickled with vinegar and salt are called suanmeizi (酸梅子; "sour plum fruits"), and have an intensely sour and salty flavour. They are generally made from unripe plum fruits. Huamei (話梅) are Chinese preserved plums and refer to Chinese plums pickled in sugar, salt, and herbs. There are two general varieties: a dried variety, and a wet (pickled) variety.[ citation needed ]

Umeboshi (梅干) are pickled and dried plums. They are a Japanese specialty. Pickled with coarse salt, they are quite salty and sour, and therefore eaten sparingly. They are often red in colour when purple shiso leaves are used. Plums used for making umeboshi are harvested in late May or early June, while they are ripe enough in yellow, and layered with much salt. [29] They are weighed down with a heavy stone (or some more modern implement) until late August. They are then dried in the sun on bamboo mats for several days (they are returned to the salt at night). The flavonoid pigment in shiso leaves gives them their distinctive colour and a richer flavour. Umeboshi are generally eaten with rice as part of a bento (boxed lunch), although they may also be used in makizushi (rolled sushi). Umeboshi are also used as a popular filling for rice balls (onigiri) wrapped in nori. Makizushi made with plums may be made with either umeboshi or bainiku (umeboshi paste), often in conjunction with green shiso leaves. A byproduct of umeboshi production is umeboshi vinegar, a salty, sour condiment.[ citation needed ]

In Korea, there is 'maesil-jangajji' which is similar to 'Umeboshi'. It is a common side dish in Korea.[ citation needed ]

A very similar variety of pickled plum, xí muội or ô mai is used in Vietnamese cuisine. The best fruit for this are from the forest around the Hương Pagoda in Hà Tây Province.

Traditional medicine

Prunus mume is a common fruit in Asia and is used in traditional Chinese medicine. [30]

Cultural significance

Plum blossoms have been well-loved and celebrated across the East Asian cultural sphere, which includes China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.

Clustering chinese plum blossoms by chen xianzhang.jpg
"Clustering Chinese Plum Blossoms" by Ming painter Chen Lu, Hunan Provincial Museum collection

East Asia

Chinese

Chen Lu-Plum Blossoms.jpg
"Plum Blossoms" by the painter Chen Lu (陳錄)
Wang Mian, Blossoming Plum.jpg
"Blossoming plum" by the painter Wang Mian (王冕)
Manual of Plum Blossom Painting, by Song Dynasty painter Song Boren. Manual of Plum Blossom Painting.jpg
Manual of Plum Blossom Painting, by Song Dynasty painter Song Boren.

The plum blossom, which is known as the meihua (梅花), is one of the most beloved flowers in China and has been frequently depicted in Chinese art and poetry for centuries. [19] The plum blossom is seen as a symbol of winter and a harbinger of spring. [19] The blossoms are so beloved because they are viewed as blooming most vibrantly amidst the winter snow, exuding an ethereal elegance, [19] [31] while their fragrance is noticed to still subtly pervade the air at even the coldest times of the year. [31] [32] Therefore, the plum blossom came to symbolize perseverance and hope, as well as beauty, purity, and the transitoriness of life. [19] In Confucianism, the plum blossom stands for the principles and values of virtue. [33] More recently, it has also been used as a metaphor to symbolize revolutionary struggle since the turn of the 20th century. [34]

Because it blossoms in the cold winter, the plum blossom is regarded as one of the "Three Friends of Winter", along with pine, and bamboo. [18] [35] The plum blossom is also regarded as one of the "Four Gentlemen" of flowers in Chinese art, together with the orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. [35] It is one of the "Flowers of the Four Seasons", which consist of the orchid (spring), the lotus (summer), the chrysanthemum (autumn) and the plum blossom (winter). [35] These groupings are seen repeatedly in the Chinese aesthetic of art, painting, literature, and garden design. [36]

An example of the plum blossom's literary significance is found in the life and work of poet Lin Bu (林逋) of the Song dynasty (960–1279). For much of his later life, Lin Bu lived in quiet reclusion on a cottage by West Lake in Hangzhou, China. [37] According to stories, he loved plum blossoms and cranes so much that he considered the plum blossom of Solitary Hill at West Lake as his wife and the cranes of the lake as his children, thus he could live peacefully in solitude. [38] [39] One of his most famous poems is "Little Plum Blossom of Hill Garden" (山園小梅). The Chinese text, as well as a translation, follows: [40]

As with the literary culture amongst the educated of the time, Lin Bu's poems were discussed in several Song dynasty era commentaries on poetry. Wang Junqing remarked after quoting the third and fourth line: "This is from Lin Hejing's [Lin Bu's] plum blossom poem. Yet these lines might just as well be applied to the flowering apricot, peach, or pear."—a comparison of the flowers with the plum blossom to which the renowned Song dynasty poet Su Dongpo (蘇東坡) replied, "Well, yes, they might. But I'm afraid the flowers of those other trees wouldn't presume to accept such praise." [32] Plum blossoms inspired many people of the era. [41]

Princess Shouyang, who is prominently featured in a Chinese legend about plum blossoms Hua Li Zhu Cui Xiu Gathering Gems of Beauty (Song Shou Yang Gong Zhu ) 2.jpg
Princess Shouyang, who is prominently featured in a Chinese legend about plum blossoms

Legend has it that once on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, while Princess Shouyang (壽陽公主), daughter of Emperor Wu of Liu Song (劉宋武帝), was resting under the eaves of Hanzhang Palace near the plum trees after wandering in the gardens, a plum blossom drifted down onto her fair face, leaving a floral imprint on her forehead that enhanced her beauty further. [42] [43] [44] The court ladies were said to be so impressed that they started decorating their own foreheads with a small delicate plum blossom design. [42] [43] [45] This is also the mythical origin of the floral fashion, meihua chuang [43] (梅花妝; literally "plum blossom makeup"), that originated in the Southern Dynasties (420–589) and became popular amongst ladies in the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties. [45] [46] The markings of plum blossom designs on the foreheads of court ladies were usually made with paintlike materials such as sorghum powder, gold powder, paper, jade, and other tint substances. Princess Shouyang is celebrated as the goddess of the plum blossom in Chinese culture. [43] [44]

During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the garden designer Ji Cheng wrote his definitive garden architecture monograph Yuanye and in it, he described the plum tree as the "beautiful woman of the forest and moon". [41] The appreciation of nature at night plays an important role in Chinese gardens. For this reason, there are classical pavilions for the tradition of viewing plum blossoms by the moonlight. [47] The flowers are viewed and enjoyed by many as annual plum blossom festivals take place in the blooming seasons of the meihua. The festivals take place throughout China (for example, West Lake in Hangzhou and scenic spots near Zijin Mountain in Nanjing, amongst other places). [48] [49] Plum blossoms are often used as decoration during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and remain popular in the miniature gardening plants of the art of penjing. [19] Branches of plum blossoms are often arranged in porcelain or ceramic vases, such as the meiping (literally "plum vase"). [50] [51] These vases can hold single branches of plum blossoms and have been traditionally used to display the blossoms in a home since the early Song dynasty (960–1279). [52] [53] [54]

The Moy Yat lineage of Wing Chun kung fu uses a red plum flower blossom as its symbol. The plum blossoms are featured on one of the four flowers that appear on mahjong tile sets, where mei () is usually simply translated as "plum" in English. [55]

It has been suggested that the Japanese practice of hanami may have originated from the Chinese custom of enjoying poetry and wine underneath plum blossom trees while viewing their flowers, that was replicated by Japanese elites. This is supported by the fact that hanami started in urban areas rather than rural areas, that Japanese people initially admired plum blossoms like the Chinese rather than cherry blossoms, and that classic Japanese poetry does not associate cherry blossoms with merriness. [56]

Plum blossoms painted on China Airlines aircraft tails. China Airlines Lineup TPE.jpg
Plum blossoms painted on China Airlines aircraft tails.

The National Flower of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was officially designated as the plum blossom (Prunus Mei; Chinese :梅花) by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China on July 21, 1964. [57] The plum blossom is the symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity during the harsh winter. [58] [59] The triple grouping of stamens (three stamens per petal) on the national emblem represents Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People, while the five petals symbolize the five branches of the government. [57] [59] It also serves as the logo of China Airlines, the national carrier of Taiwan (the Republic of China). [60] The flower is featured on some New Taiwan dollar coins. [61]

Korean

Lidded Prunus Vase (Meiping) with Lotus Sprays LACMA AC1999.38.6.1-.2.jpg
ceongja sanggammaejughagmun maebyeong (bomul je1168ho).jpg
Song meiping and Goryeo maebyong

In Korea, the plum blossom is a symbol for spring. [62] It is a popular flower motif, amongst other flowers, for Korean embroidery. [63] Maebyong are plum vases derived from the Chinese meiping and are traditionally used to hold branches of plum blossoms in Korea. [64] [65] Korean ceramist Master Kim Se-yong incorporates the blossom into many of his openwork celadon vases.

Also, during Korean Empire period, the plum blossom became the imperial seal and royal official flower. Since ancient times, plum blossom has been filled with meaning and mystery. Plum blossoms bloom at the end of the winter, and because of this, they are called the herald of spring. They also symbolize perseverance because of how they can possibly bloom during the cold winter. Since they are considered the first flower of the year, they also represent purity and renewal. Plum flowers have five petals which are believed to carry 5 different blessings such as: wealth, health, virtue, peaceful and natural death. [66]

Japanese

Plum blossoms are often mentioned in Japanese poetry as a symbol of spring, as well as elegance and purity. When used in haiku or renga, they are a kigo or season word for early spring. The blossoms are associated with the Japanese bush warbler and are depicted together on one of the twelve suits of hanafuda (Japanese playing cards). [67] Plum blossoms were favored during the Nara period (710–794) until the emergence of the Heian period (794–1185), in which the cherry blossom was preferred. [68]

Japanese tradition holds that the ume functions as a protective charm against evil, so the ume is traditionally planted in the northeast of the garden, the direction from which evil is believed to come. The eating of the pickled fruit for breakfast is also supposed to stave off misfortune. [69]

The tradition of hanami was originally performed with plum blossoms rather than cherry blossoms as is common today. The specific custom of viewing plum blossoms in Japan is now called umemi (梅見, plum-viewing). [70] [71]

Southeast Asia

Vietnamese

In Vietnam, due to the beauty of the tree and its flowers, the word mai is used to name girls. The largest hospital in Hanoi is named Bạch Mai (white plum blossom), [72] another hospital in Hanoi is named Mai Hương ("the scent of plum"), situated in Hồng Mai (pink plum blossom) street. [73] Hoàng Mai (yellow plum blossom) is the name of a district in Hanoi. Bạch Mai is also a long and old street in Hanoi. All these places are located in the south part of Hanoi, where, in the past, many P. mume trees were grown.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peach</span> Type of fruit tree, or its fruit

The peach is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others, nectarines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apricot</span> Cultivated fruit

An apricot is a fruit, or the tree that bears the fruit, of several species in the genus Prunus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plum</span> Edible fruit

A plum is a fruit of some species in Prunus subg. Prunus. Dried plums are most often called prunes, though in the United States they may be just labeled as 'dried plums', especially during the 21st century.

<i>Prunus</i> Genus of trees and shrubs

Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs in the flowering plant family Rosaceae that includes plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and almonds. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, being native to the North American temperate regions, the neotropics of South America, and temperate and tropical regions of Asia and Africa, There are 340 accepted species. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for their fruit and for decorative purposes. Prunus fruit are drupes, or stone fruits. The fleshy mesocarp surrounding the endocarp is edible while the endocarp itself forms a hard, inedible shell called the pyrena. This shell encloses the seed, which is edible in some species, but poisonous in many others. Besides being eaten off the hand, most Prunus fruit are also commonly used in processing, such as jam production, canning, drying, and the seeds for roasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blossom</span> Flowers of stone fruit trees and of some other plants that flower in spring

In botany, blossoms are the flowers of stone fruit trees and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry blossom</span> Blossom of the cherry tree

The cherry blossom, or sakura, is the flower of trees in Prunus subgenus Cerasus. "Sakura" usually refers to flowers of ornamental cherry trees, such as cultivars of Prunus serrulata, not trees grown for their fruit. Cherry blossoms have been described as having a vanilla-like smell, which is mainly attributed to coumarin.

<i>Umeboshi</i> Sour, pickled Japanese fruit

Umeboshi are pickled (brined) ume fruits common in Japan. The word umeboshi is often translated into English as 'salted Japanese plums', 'Japanese plums' or 'preserved plums'. Ume is a species of fruit-bearing tree in the genus Prunus, which is often called a "plum", but is actually more closely related to the apricot. Pickled ume which are not dried are called umezuke (梅漬け).

<i>Prunus armeniaca</i> Species of apricot

Prunus armeniaca is the most commonly cultivated apricot species. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation. Genetic studies indicate Central Asia is the center of origin. It is extensively cultivated in many countries and has escaped into the wild in many places.

<i>Hanami</i> Japanese traditional custom

Hanami is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers; flowers in this case almost always refer to those of the cherry or, less frequently, plum trees. From the end of March to early May, cherry trees bloom all over Japan, and around the second week of January on the island of Okinawa. The blossom forecast "cherry blossom front" is announced each year by the Japan Meteorological Agency, and is watched carefully by those planning hanami as the blossoms only last a week or two.

<i>Prunus serrulata</i> Species of tree

Prunus serrulata or Japanese cherry is a species of cherry tree that grows naturally in Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam, and it also refers to a cultivar produced from Prunus speciosa, a cherry tree endemic in Japan. Historically, the Japanese have developed many cultivars by selective breeding of cherry trees, which are produced by the complicated crossing of several wild species, and they are used for ornamental purposes all over the world. Of these, the cultivars produced by complex interspecific hybrids based on the Oshima cherry are also known as the Cerasus Sato-zakura Group.

<i>Prunus salicina</i> Species of tree

Prunus salicina, commonly called the Japanese plum or Chinese plum, is a small deciduous tree native to China. It is now also grown in fruit orchards in Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Israel, the United States, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crack seed</span> Category of snacks that originated in China

Crack seed is a category of snacks that originated in China. It is highly popular in many regions, such as Hawaii. Crack seed are preserved fruits that have been cracked or split with the seed or kernel partially exposed as a flavor enhancement. This type of snack is commonly referred to in the Cantonese language as see mui ; it arrived in Hawaii during the 19th century, when Cantonese immigrants were brought to work on the plantations. The larger numbers of Japanese who later came to work on the plantations adopted the snack, being similar to the Japanese umeboshi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Li hing mui</span> Salty dried Chinese plum

Li hing mui, known as huamei in Mainland China, is salty dried Chinese plum. It has a strong, distinctive flavor and is often said to be an acquired taste, as it has a combination of sweet, sour, and salty taste. Originally from Guangdong Province, the name "li hing mui" means "traveling plum". "Li hing" is "traveling" and "mui" is "plum" in Cantonese. Li hung mui is called hoshiume in Japan, where the salty and sour umeboshi is also popular. Li hing mui, along with li hing powder, is extremely popular as a snack in Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamoy (sauce)</span> Savory sauces and condiments in Mexican cuisine made from pickled fruit

ChamoySpanish pronunciation:[t͡ʃaˈmoi̯] is a variety of savory sauces and condiments in Mexican cuisine made from pickled fruit. Chamoy may range from a liquid to a paste consistency, and typically its flavor is salty, sweet, sour, and spiced with chilies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National flower of the Republic of China</span> National flower of the Republic of China

The national flower of the Republic of China was officially designated as the plum blossom by the Executive Yuan of Taiwan on 21 July 1964. The plum blossom, known as the meihua, is a symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, because plum blossoms often bloom most vibrantly even amidst the harsh winter snow. As the plum tree can usually grow for a long time, ancient trees are found throughout China. Huangmei county in Hubei features a 1,600-year-old plum tree from the Jin Dynasty which is still flowering. The three stamens represents Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People, while the five petals symbolize the five branches of the government: Executive Yuan, Legislative Yuan, Judicial Yuan, Examination Yuan and Control Yuan. The flower has also been proposed to be one of the national flowers for China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Friends of Winter</span> East Asian art motif of the pine, bamboo and plum

The Three Friends of Winter is an art motif that comprises the pine, bamboo, and plum. The Chinese celebrated the pine, bamboo and plum together, for they observed that these plants do not wither as the cold days deepen into the winter season unlike many other plants. Known by the Chinese as the Three Friends of Winter, they later entered the conventions of East Asian culture and Vietnamese culture. Together they symbolize steadfastness, perseverance, and resilience. They are highly regarded in Confucianism as representing its scholar-gentleman ideal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meiping</span>

A meiping is a type of vase in Chinese ceramics. It is traditionally used to display branches of plum blossoms. The meiping was first made of stoneware during the Tang dynasty (618–907). It was originally used as a wine vessel, but since the Song dynasty (960–1279) it also became popular as a plum vase and got its name "meiping". It is tall, with a narrow base spreading gracefully into a wide body, followed by a sharply-rounded shoulder, a short and narrow neck, and a small opening.

<i>Prunus <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> dasycarpa</i> Species of plant

Prunus × dasycarpa, called purple apricot and black apricot, is a species of tree. It is in the genus Prunus in the rose family, Rosaceae. The species was named by Jakob Friedrich Ehrhart in 1791. The buds are reddish-orange, and the flower blossoms are white. It is likely a hybrid of P. armeniaca × P. cerasifera. There is disagreement about whether this is a human-cultivated cross or a naturally occurring cross from Western Asia.

<i>Prunus <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> blireiana</i> Species of flowering plant

Prunus × blireiana, the purple-leafed plum or double-flowering plum, is an ornamental flowering plant hybrid in the genus Prunus. It is a cross between the Japanese apricot and the purple-leaved plum cultivar Prunus cerasifera 'Pissardii'.

<i>Maesil-ju</i> Korean plum wine

Maesil-ju, also called plum wine, plum liquor, or plum liqueur, is an alcoholic drink infused with maesil (plums).The exact origins of Maesil-ju are unknown, but it is thought to date back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392).

References

  1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). Prunus mume. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T136775345A136775347. Downloaded on 24 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Prunus mume (mume)". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  3. Tan, Hugh T.W.; Giam, Xingli (2008). Plant magic: auspicious and inauspicious plants from around the world. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions. p. 142. ISBN   9789812614278.
  4. Kuitert, Wybe; Peterse, Arie (1999). Japanese flowering cherries. Portland: Timber Press. p.  42. ISBN   9780881924688.
  5. Yingsakmongkon, Sangchai; Miyamoto, Daisei; Sriwilaijaroen, Nongluk; Fujita, Kimie; Matsumoto, Kosai; Jampangern, Wipawee; Hiramatsu, Hiroaki; Guo, Chao-Tan; Sawada, Toshihiko; Takahashi, Tadanobu; Hidari, Kazuya; Suzuki, Takashi; Ito, Morihiro; Ito, Yasuhiko; Suzuki, Yasuo (2008). "In Vitro Inhibition of Human Influenza a Virus Infection by Fruit-Juice Concentrate of Japanese Plum (Prunus mume SIEB. Et ZUCC)". Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 31 (3): 511–515. doi: 10.1248/bpb.31.511 . PMID   18310920.
  6. Fan, Chengda (2010). Treatises of the Supervisor and Guardian of the Cinnamon Sea (Translated ed.). Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. LV. ISBN   9780295990798.
  7. Smith, Kim (2009). Oh garden of fresh possibilities!. New Hampshire: David R. Godine, Publisher. p. 38. ISBN   978-1-56792-330-8.
  8. "Gardening". The Garden . 112: 224. 1987.
  9. Uematsu, Chiyomi; Sasakuma, Tetsuo; Ogihara, Yasunari (1991). "Phylogenetic relationships in the stone fruit group of Prunus as revealed by restriction fragment analysis of chloroplast DNA". The Japanese Journal of Genetics. 66 (1): 60. doi: 10.1266/jjg.66.59 . PMID   1676591. P. mume had its origin in South China around the Yangtze River (Kyotani, 1989b).
  10. Yü, Ying-shih (2016-09-20). Chinese History and Culture: Sixth Century B.C.E. to Seventeenth Century, Volume 1. Columbia University Press. ISBN   978-0-231-54201-2.
  11. Bao, Fei; Ding, Anqi; Zhang, Tengxun; Luo, Le; Wang, Jia; Cheng, Tangren; Zhang, Qixiang (2019-02-01). "Expansion of PmBEAT genes in the Prunus mume genome induces characteristic floral scent production". Horticulture Research. 6: 24. doi:10.1038/s41438-018-0104-4. ISSN   2052-7276. PMC   6355818 . PMID   30729014.
  12. Fang, J; Twito, T; Zhang, Z; Chao, CT (October 2006). "Genetic relationships among fruiting-mei (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.) cultivars evaluated with AFLP and SNP markers". Genome. 49 (10): 1256–64. doi:10.1139/g06-097. PMID   17213907. The results demonstrate that mei cultivars from Japan are clustered with cultivars from China, and support the hypothesis that mei in Japan were introduced from China.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Armeniaca mume in Flora of China". eFloras. Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis, MO) & Harvard University Herbaria (Cambridge, MA). Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  14. Wessel, Mark. "Prunus mume: A bridge between winter and spring" . Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  15. Herbert Edgar, Wright (1993). Global climates since the last glacial maximum. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 251. ISBN   978-0-8166-2145-3.
  16. "Prunus mume (Japanese Apricot) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox".
  17. Zhang, Qixiang; Zhang, He; Sun, Lidan; Fan, Guangyi; Ye, Meixia; Jiang, Libo; Liu, Xin; Ma, Kaifeng; Shi, Chengcheng; Bao, Fei; Guan, Rui; Han, Yu; Fu, Yuanyuan; Pan, Huitang; Chen, Zhaozhe; Li, Liangwei; Wang, Jia; Lv, Meiqi; Zheng, Tangchun; Yuan, Cunquan; Zhou, Yuzhen; Lee, Simon Ming-Yuen; Yan, Xiaolan; Xu, Xun; Wu, Rongling; Chen, Wenbin; Cheng, Tangren (27 April 2018). "The genetic architecture of floral traits in the woody plant Prunus mume". Nature Communications. 9 (1): 1702. Bibcode:2018NatCo...9.1702Z. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04093-z. PMC   5923208 . PMID   29703940. Mei (Prunus mume) is an ornamental woody plant that has been domesticated in East Asia for thousands of years.
  18. 1 2 3 Kilpatrick, Jane (2007). Gifts from the Gardens of China. London: Frances Lincoln Ltd. pp. 16–17. ISBN   978-0-7112-2630-2.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Patricia Bjaaland Welch (2008). Chinese art: a guide to motifs and visual imagery . North Clarendon: Tuttle Publishing. pp.  38–9. ISBN   978-0-8048-3864-1.
  20. Yamaguchi, Y., ed.: "Kurashi no kotoba: Gogen Jiten", page 103. Kodansha, 1998
  21. 1 2 "梅和梅的品种". Science Museums of China. Chinese Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  22. Tong, Yihua; Xia, Nianhe (2016). "New combinations of Rosaceae, Urticaceae and Fagaceae from China". Biodiversity Science. 24 (6): 714–718. doi: 10.17520/biods.2016071 . Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  23. 王, 家琼; 吴, 保欢; 崔, 大方; 羊, 海军; 黄, 峥; 齐, 安民 (14 November 2016). "Taxonomic study on Armeniaca Scop. species in China based on thirty morphological characters". 植物资源与环境学报. 2016 (3): 103–111. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  24. "日本国政府農林水産省近畿農政局農林水産統計" (PDF).
  25. 1 2 Khan, Ikhlas A.; Abourashed, Ehab A. (2008). Leung's encyclopedia of common natural ingredients: used in food, drugs, and cosmetics (3rd ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. ISBN   978-0-471-46743-4.
  26. 1 2 Baek, Jong-hyun (23 April 2016). "A taste of Korea with three regional delights". Korea JoongAng Daily . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  27. Han, Dongha (1 June 2016). "청(淸)과 발효액은 어떻게 다를까?" [What's the difference between cheong(syrup) and fermented liquor?]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  28. Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation - Department of Liquor 烏梅酒 Archived 2008-01-20 at the Wayback Machine
  29. "昔ながらの保存食!梅干し:農林水産省". www.maff.go.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  30. Liu, Zhanwen; Liu, Liang (2009). Essentials of Chinese medicine. New York: Springer. p. 273. ISBN   978-1-84882-111-8.
  31. 1 2 "The Three Friends of Winter: Paintings of Pine, Plum, and Bamboo from the Museum Collection (Introduction)". National Palace Museum. January 2003. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  32. 1 2 Cai, Zong-qi (2008). How to read Chinese poetry: A guided anthology. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 210–311. ISBN   978-0-231-13941-0.
  33. Bartók, Mira; Ronan, Christine (1994). Ancient China. Good Year Books. p. 13. ISBN   978-0-673-36180-6.
  34. Ip, Hung-yok (2005). Intellectuals in revolutionary China, 1921-1949: leaders, heroes and sophisticates. Oxfordshire: Routledge. pp. 103, 110. ISBN   978-0-415-35165-2.
  35. 1 2 3 Heinrich, Sally (2007). Key into China. Curriculum Press. pp. 28, 80. ISBN   978-1-86366-697-8.
  36. Forsyth, Holly (2010). Gardens of Eden: Among the World's Most Beautiful Gardens. The Miegunyah Press. p. 104. ISBN   9780522857764.
  37. Fong, Grace S. (2008). Herself an author: gender, agency, and writing in late Imperial China. University of Hawaii Press. p. 58. ISBN   978-0-8248-3186-8.
  38. China Travel Guide. "Gu Shan (Solitary Hill)". Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  39. Schmidt, Jerry Dean (2003). Harmony Garden: the life, literary criticism, and poetry of Yuan Mei (1716-1799). London: Routledge. p. 641. ISBN   978-0-7007-1525-1.
  40. Red Pine. Poems of the Masters. Port Townsend, Copper Canyon Press, 2003, p. 453.
  41. 1 2 Dudbridge, Glen; Berg, Daria (2007). Reading China. Leiden: Brill. pp. 56–58. ISBN   978-90-04-15483-4.
  42. 1 2 Cai, Zong-qi, ed. (2008). How to read Chinese poetry: A guided anthology. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 295. ISBN   978-0-231-13941-0.
  43. 1 2 3 4 Wang, Betty. "Flower deities mark the lunar months with stories of Love & Tragedy". Taiwan Review. Government Information Office, Republic of China. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  44. 1 2 "Taiwan periodicals_West & East". West & East 中美月刊. 36–37: 9. 1991. ISSN   0043-3047.
  45. 1 2 Huo, Jianying. "Ancient Cosmetology". China Today. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  46. Mei, Hua (2011). Chinese clothing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 32. ISBN   978-0-521-18689-6. For example, the Huadian or forehead decoration was said to have originated in the South Dynasty, when the Shouyang Princess was taking a walk in the palace in early spring and a light breeze brought a plum blossom onto her forehead. The plum blossom for some reason could not be washed off or removed in any way. Fortunately, it looked beautiful on her, and all of a sudden became all the rage among the girls of the commoners. It is therefore called the "Shouyang makeup" or the "plum blossom makeup." This makeup was popular among women for a long time in the Tang and Song Dynasties.
  47. Thacker, Christopher (1985). The history of gardens . Berkeley: University of California Press. p.  57. ISBN   978-0-520-05629-9.
  48. Int'l Plum Blossom Festival draws crowds in Nanjing. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  49. Harper, Damian; Fallon, Steve (2005). China . Lonely Planet. p.  228. ISBN   9781740596879.
  50. Patricia Bjaaland Welch (2008). Chinese art: a guide to motifs and visual imagery . North Clarendon: Tuttle Publishing. p.  17. ISBN   978-0-8048-3864-1.
  51. Hansman, John (1985). Julfār, an Arabian port: Its settlement and Far Eastern ceramic trade from the 14th to the 18th centuries. London: Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. p. 28. ISBN   978-0-947593-01-8.
  52. "meiping". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  53. "Prunus Vase (meiping)". Saint Louis Art Museum. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  54. "Meiping". Musée Guimet. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  55. Lo, Amy (2001). The book of mahjong: An illustrated guide. Boston: Tuttle Publishing. pp.  47–48. ISBN   978-0-8048-3302-8.
  56. Hannes Palang; Helen Sooväli; Anu Printsmann (2007). Seasonal Landscapes Volume 7 of Landscape Series. Springer. p. 223. ISBN   978-1402049903.
  57. 1 2 Government Information Office, Republic of China - National Flower Archived 2011-08-05 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  58. "The Three Friends of Winter: Paintings of Pine, Plum, and Bamboo from the Museum Collection". Taipei: National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院). January 2003. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  59. 1 2 National Flag, Anthem and Flower. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  60. "Looking back". China Airlines. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  61. "Current New Taiwan Dollar Coins". New Taipei City Government. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  62. Mullany, Francis (2006). Symbolism in Korean ink brush painting. Folkestone: Global Oriental. p. 18. ISBN   978-1-901903-89-8.
  63. Lee, Kyung-ja; Hong, Na-young; Chang, Sook-hwan (2007). Traditional Korean costume. Folkestone, Kent, UK: Global Oriental. p. 125. ISBN   978-1-905246-04-5.
  64. "Vase (Maebyeong) with Lotus Blossoms". Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  65. Smith, Judith G. (1998). Arts of Korea. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 415. ISBN   978-0-87099-850-8.
  66. "Plum Blossoms, its Symbolism and Meanings". Lotus Fun. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  67. Nakamura, Shigeki (2009). Pattern sourcebook: Nature 2: 250 patterns for projects and designs (1. publ. ed.). Beverly, Mass.: Rockport Publishing. ISBN   978-1-59253-559-0.
  68. Parker, Mary S. (1999). Sashiko: Easy & elegant Japanese designs for decorative machine embroidery. Asheville, N.C.: Lark Books. p. 132. ISBN   978-1-57990-132-5.
  69. Rowthorn, Chris and Florence, Mason. Lonely Planet: Kyoto. 2001, page 21.
  70. "「梅見月」って何月のこと?梅から始まる江戸の花見を、美しい錦絵とともに紹介! | 和樂web 美の国ニッポンをもっと知る!". 和樂web 美の国ニッポンをもっと知る! (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  71. "梅見月 うめみづき|暦生活". 暦生活 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  72. "Bach Mai - Trang chủ". Bach Mai Hospital. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  73. "Mai Huong Hospital". Mai Huong Day Psychiatric Hospital. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.