Huajianshi (Second Edition)

Among the beautiful and serene things in the world, flowers stand out as the utmost. Wu Yonggang, a dedicated artisan of Chinese flower arranging, has devoted more than a decade to serving flowers, traveling across the length and breadth of China, gathering plants from the four seasons, and overcoming bottlenecks and achieving self-breakthroughs at every stage. Now, he continues to capture the vivid charm of classical Chinese flower arranging. If the works in his first book mostly pursued form and shape, then the works in this book convey more about the aesthetics and philosophy behind classical art. Drawing on his flower arranging philosophy honed over many years, the author creates works that showcase a one-sided view, emphasizing three minds, three methods, a four-character mantra, and five postures in serving flowers, awakening flower lovers to deeper insights and reflections on classical art. Spring brings growth, summer thrives, autumn harvests, and winter hides away; the plants follow the order of the four seasons, representing a cycle of life. The author gathers wild flowers and plants, applying the vitality of living flora, creating with just one or two elegant and simple flower branches, conveying the whispers of the four seasons in a rustic atmosphere, displaying posture and charm, and imbuing it with Zen. Good flowers deserve beautiful containers, and each work in this book includes introductions to the flowers, vessels, and craftsmen: ancient glass, Longquan celadon porcelain, Ru kiln flower vases... Literary artifacts and plants blend together perfectly, echoing traditional literary spaces, contemporary secluded mountain huts, and new Chinese-style spaces, creating a serene and distant atmosphere. With a casual heart towards flora, the years pass peacefully. This book will lead flower lovers and those who serve flowers to deeply implant the art of classical flower arranging in their souls, allowing it to grow silently over time. In dialogue with flowers and plants, it heals and soothes the body and mind, placing boundless beauty and love into limited life.