The 2025 World Peony Conference and the 34th Heze International Peony Culture and Tourism Festival opened Tuesday in Heze City, Shandong Province – a region celebrated as China\u2019s \u201cPeony Capital.\u201d This vibrant event highlights how the peony, a symbol of prosperity in Chinese tradition, is fostering cross-cultural dialogue and artistic exchange between Asia and the world.
Beyond its domestic significance, the peony has emerged as a cultural bridge, particularly resonating with Japan\u2019s artistic traditions. Mutsumi Kimura, a Japanese Kyo-Yuzen dyeing artist, shared insights on the flower\u2019s symbolic weight: \u201cPeonies are called the king of flowers – they\u2019re both majestic and auspicious. Their motifs frequently adorn formal kimonos, embodying nobility and elegance in Japanese culture.\u201d
The conference underscores shared aesthetic values between the two nations, tracing the peony\u2019s journey from imperial gardens in China to textile arts in Kyoto. Organizers emphasize that such exchanges reflect horticulture\u2019s unique capacity to transcend political boundaries, with plans to expand collaborative exhibitions between Chinese and international artists through 2026.
