Early spring visitor, red apricot flowers

By Kim Jin-heon

Last mid-February, my Facebook friend introduced me to a church in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province which had red apricot trees over 100 years old that were in bloom. As I got to the church, the trees with mossy branches had flowers that looked withered by the cold weather, but some appeared fresh and fancy.

After my friends and I looked around the blossoms, we took pictures behind them and spent time fixing our eyes on each flower for a few minutes or so.

They were captivating and dignified. As I hoped to see more red apricot blossoms with my friends, I drove my car to Geumdun Temple, famous for early blossoming red apricot trees about 20 minutes away.

As we reached the temple, there were a few blooming trees. After exploring the trees, I found a sign on the wall on one building beside them. It said that a poet in A.D. 800 had praised the blooming trees.

The fragrance of blooming apricot trees is spreading everywhere even during the lunar December.

Flowers on the branches bloom sparsely, half of them lower their heads in cold weather. Snow on the flowers is melting, making them look new and decorated with tears.

Like that poet, many nobles have praised the blooming of the trees, by writing poems or drawing pictures of them, or making various handicrafts engraved with their image, together with orchids, chrysanthemums and bamboo since the Goryeo Kingdom.

In Confucian society during the Joseon Kingdom period, they symbolized fidelity, integrity and elegance, thus, nobles planted apricot trees in their yards. On the other hand, monks grew them in temple yards because they believed they could attain nirvana by observing the trees blooming in the cold weather.

Since the 19th century, ordinary people have preferred red apricot trees because they had various symbolic meanings such as, everlasting life in Taoism, or each flower representing the Buddha in Buddhism. In those days, an artist named Jo Hui-ryong expressed the message by drawing a picture called, "Two pictures of red apricot tree flowers." He said that if he drew more flowers on the paper, it meant more offerings to the Buddha.

Like Jo, artists adored the opening of red apricot trees by painting them on paper or cloth, whereas people showed their admiration by visiting the places that had them blooming around.

Seonnammae (red apricot blossoms) over 600 years old in Seonnam Temple in Suncheon, Gobulmae over 350 years old in Baekyang Temple in Jangseong county, and Hwaeommae over 400 or 300 years old were all designated as natural monuments because of their beauty known all over the country. Red and white apricot trees over 150 years old in South Jeolla Province are planted in many places luring travelers to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Due to their long history, the trees have a lot of moss on their branches, and some of their branches are dead, their flowers sparse. Nevertheless, their shapes and flowers call to visitors who are eager to have flowers even in cold weather or in snow. They represent the essence of life.

In South Jeolla province, from late February to late March, white and red apricot tree season begins and can be called a paradise of flowers. So, if you hope to refresh your mind, visit the area. The flowers will welcome you with immense pleasure.

The writer is working as a temporary teacher at Gwangyeong High School, Gwangyang County, South Jeolla Province after retiring this February. He published a book titled, "Flower Is Flower."

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