'King of all flowers'
Long regarded as the symbolic blossom of China and the "king of all flowers", peonies have been a favorite subject of Chinese artists for centuries.
The glorious and fragrant flower symbolizes everything that is auspicious, flourishingpeaceful, happy, wealthy and elegant.
The Red Peony Academy of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy in Ningbo serves as a bridge that brings foreigners and locals together through teaching both local and international students traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy.
Located in the library of Ningbo's Yinzhou district, home to a host of universities and foreigners, the academy was established in 2012 and has since attracted more than 2,000 students from nearly 100 countries.
Students from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds take part in classes and events to experience traditional Chinese ink painting and calligraphy as well as Ningbo's indigenous culture.
Participants range from primary school students to university students, foreign teachers and business people living in or visiting Ningbo.
In addition to teaching painting techniques, it introduces foreign students to the culture behind commonly seen subjects in Chinese ink paintings such as peonies, plums, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums and landscapes.
Zhuan Ti
(China Daily 03/26/2015 page19)
