Among the trees flowering in May there is a species called Chionanthus retusus, commonly known as Chinese Fringetree. This tree is called “ipop namu이팝나무” or rice tree in Korea, for its flowers resemble white, long-grained rice. The flowers tend to bloom in groups, covering the entire tree in bright white. These trees would have looked delicious to Koreans, who usually had very little to eat during the lean months of spring. There is Maryeong마령 Elementary School near Mai마이 Mountain in Jinan진안, North Jeolla Province. A small forest of ipop trees is located near the school and it is said that the forest used to be a graveyard for children. It is said that the ipop trees were planted by the parents of dead children to comfort the souls of those who had starved to death. Many flowers and trees have sad stories associated with them, but not many are as heartbreaking as the one about the ipop trees at Maryeong Elementary School.

That was Kim Hee-young singing “Sanyuhwa” or “Flowers in the Mountain.” It’s a song based on Kim So-wol김소월’s poem of the same name.

Flowers bloom in the mountain/ Flowers bloom
The departing spring sees no summer/ Flowers bloom

Some people wonder what kind of flower sanyuhwa is, but it’s not the name of a flower, but a general term for flowers blossoming in the mountain. According to an old folk tale, lushly blooming ipop trees are a sign of a rich harvest that year. That belief probably came out of hard-working farmers’ wishful thinking. Another tree species blossoming in spring is paulownia tomentosa, also known as empress tree or royal foxglove tree. Royal foxglove lumber, when dried properly, is lightweight and bug-resistant, so it was used to make wardrobes, musical instruments, and jewelry boxes. In the old days Koreans would plant an empress tree when a daughter was born and use that tree to make a matrimonial wardrobe when the daughter got married. Also, Korean seonbis or scholars cherished the empress tree, because they believed that melodies dwelled in the trees and the trees gave them musical inspirations. Before the leaves sprout in empress trees, purple bell-shaped flowers would bloom, spreading its fragrance for miles around.

A Tree Dreaming of Songs/ Geomungo by Jang Eun-sun

That was the first movement of an instrumental piece called “A Tree Dreaming of Songs” with Jang Eun-sun playing the geomungo. In the old times people didn’t consider all flowers equal. Each flower was designated a certain status and meaning. There is even an old poem that went as follows.

Peony is the king among flowers, sunflower symbolizes loyalty and filial love.
Lotus flower is a gentleman and apricot blossoms are small-minded.
Chrysanthemum is a hermit and plum blossoms are like poor scholars.
Gourd flower is like an old man, and China pink flowers are like young boys.
And Sweet briers are like young girls.

Peony was considered the most luscious flower back then, and sunflower was thought to be loyal, since it always followed the sun. A pure and elegant lotus flower was thought to resemble a gentleman and apricot blossoms were supposedly like a petty person. Although people gave each flower a role and meaning, flowers were just flowers, existing as nature commended. Let’s wrap up this week’s Sounds of Korea with a song called “Peony Is” sung by Kang Kwon-soon강권순.

Peony Is / Sung by Kang Kwon-soon