Vancouver: Art

Love in stone

In 1995, Chinese-Canadian author Wayson Choy published his first book entitled The Jade Peony. A jade peony is a small jade amulet carved in the shape of the peony flower. The novel is named thus because the entire story revolves around one such amulet.


It can be said that the peony symbolizes the soul of grandmama, the true owner of the peony, and that of her true love. Grandmama believed that the colors of the peony, similar to the colors of the peony flower seen on the right, were magical. The pink center of the peony was in the "color of her spirit". The white petals were the color of her love, the albino actor who gave her the peony, who was "tall and pale as the whiteness of petals." Together, the peony symbolized them as a whole, soul mates together, like a personal yin and yang.

In China today, the peony is considered to be one of the national emblems of the country. It symbolizes beauty, romance and purity. Jade carved in the form of a the peony flower, such as the white charm on the top left, and the jade plant directly to the left, are said to bring love and good feng shui, or harmony with the environment.

In Vancouver, peonies are grown for their large, beautiful flowers, their pleasant scents and their various colors. Peonies live long, are hardy, and can resist wildlife such as deer, making them both beautiful and lasting.

In May, the Peony Festival is held in the Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese garden. This event is organized by the Canadian Peony Society, a group that promotes and encourages the growing of peonies within Canada. This festival showcases the best grown flowers in BC, and visitors have been dazzled by both the amazing colors and romantic smells of our very own flora.

Transcending cultures, carved in stone or grown to perfection, peonies serve as an amazing symbol of love.