Painting of apricot flowers

It is not natural in Vietnamese culture that the apricot flower is called a symbol for Tet holidays. Because in the four quarters: conifer, bamboo chrysanthemum, apricot blossom not only has external beauty that makes people’s heart flutter, but also has admirable qualities. Apricot flowers often have extremely simple beauty from thin branches to bright yellow colors showing off on Tet.

Talking about the beauty of apricot flowers in poetry, perhaps apricot flowers have been known for thousands of years in the poems of many heroes, Zen masters have also praised their beauty. Primarily apricot flowers in poetry are known for their pure, noble beauty with great virtues. Zen Master Manjic once praised in these verses:

“Don’t think that the spring will end and the flowers will fall off

Last night in front of a branch tomorrow pitch”

Apricot flower overcomes the harshness of the weather, of creation and goes above all so that when the time comes, it will show off all its beauty. Just like the gentleman, when he has not met the time, he wholeheartedly trains himself, when the time is right, he wholeheartedly serves the world. Even Cao Ba Quat also wholeheartedly praised and worshiped their noble and pure beauty in the verse: “Nhat Sinh De To Mai Hoa” (One life I only bow to the apricot blossom). Perhaps just seeing the verse can explain why apricot blossom is so famous in Vietnamese culture.

It is also natural that there are paintings depicting the beauty of apricot flowers. In this picture you can easily admire the inner and outer beauty of apricot flowers. The painting has the classic beauty of colors that are not too dazzling in the brilliant paintings of apricot flowers on Tet holiday. It shows the pure and noble beauty in each apricot tree, the thin apricot branches. Maybe it’s the time when they don’t show off their best beauties as they weather the cold winter. New shoots emerge in the young leaves, showing the beauty of fertility, signaling a budding life, showing off their hidden beauty.