Fire Refined Elixir: The Symbolism and Beauty of Paeonia Suffruticosa

The peony, often hailed as the “king of flowers,” is particularly renowned for a red variety known as the “Fire Refined Elixir.” Also known as “Seed-born Red,” this variety belongs to the tower-like group, characterized by its scarce bloom and propagation difficulty.

Upon blooming, the flower hides beneath the leaves, presenting a delicate and lustrous red hue almost identical to the red on the national flag, hence its nickname, “National Flag Red.”

Legend has it that this flower originated from the three golden elixirs of the Supreme Elder Lord, sourced from the Qianxi Temple on Longmen Mountain, earning it the moniker, “Qianxi Crimson.”

Its emergence is associated with the Supreme Elder Lord’s elixir refining, hence the alternative name, “Fire Refined Elixir” or Paeonia suffruticosa.

I. Basic Introduction

Fire Refined Elixir, also known as “Seed-born Red,” belongs to the tower-like group of peonies. With fewer blooms and a challenging propagation process, its blossoms hide beneath the leaves once they open, presenting a delicate and lustrous red hue nearly identical to the red on the national flag, therefore also known as “National Flag Red.”

The flower is said to have originated from the three golden elixirs of the Supreme Elder Lord, derived from the Qianxi Temple on Longmen Mountain.

Initially, onlookers could only see a fireball from a distance of ten steps, which transformed into a peony up close. As time passed, the monks in the temple transplanting the peonies, due to inappropriate timing, damaged the precious aura of the flowers.

The “Fire Peony” no longer appeared as a fireball as before, but the three “Fire Peonies” propagated many descendants, gradually spreading among the people.

Given that this peony originated from the Qianxi Temple, it is also called “Qianxi Crimson.”

II. Value and Other

In Luoyang, Longmen has an ancient cave called “Gu Yang,” named after the Supreme Elder Lord, who was said to have refined elixir there, hence its nickname, “Lao Jun Cave.”

Legend has it that one spring, the Supreme Elder Lord refined gold elixir in Gu Yang Cave, placed it in a gourd, and corked it, preparing to take it back to the Heavenly Palace for the Queen Mother’s Peach Banquet. However, his ride, a beautiful golden mule, had mysteriously disappeared.

The Supreme Elder Lord traveled all over Longmen Mountain in search of his mule. Despite the lush greenery and stunning views, his golden mule was nowhere to be found.

Desperate, he took out his magic mirror and found that his mule was lazily wandering near Qianxi Temple on the southern mountain of Longmen.

Hurrying to the front of the Qianxi Temple, he stumbled over a stone while trying to lead the golden mule, causing the cork on the gourd to fly off, scattering golden elixir everywhere.

After collecting the scattered golden elixir, he realized he had missed three pieces that had rolled into a crevice and been buried in floating soil. Assuming he had collected all the elixir, he corked the gourd, mounted the golden mule, and leisurely flew back to the Heavenly Palace.

After a rainfall, the three pieces of golden elixir that were left behind combined with the earth and sprouted into three peony plants, each bearing a fiery red blossom.

A monk from the Qianxi Temple, who fetched water daily from the Qianxi River, noticed three fires burning in the distance one day. Upon closer examination, he realized they were not fires, but three fiery red peony flowers. However, when he retreated about a dozen steps, the three peonies appeared as three fires again.

The monk cherished these peonies, guarding them day and night, as if protecting the temple. Before long, the nearby villagers also discovered these “Fire Peonies”. Word spread, and many people came to the Qianxi Temple to marvel at them.

Fearing the damage people might cause to the peonies, the monk transplanted the three peonies into the Qianxi Temple in the middle of the night.

However, due to inappropriate timing of the transplant, the monk damaged the precious aura of the “Fire Peonies.” Although they still bloomed in the Qianxi Temple, they no longer appeared as fires as before.

Years later, these peonies propagated many descendants, gradually spreading among the people. Because this peony originated from the Qianxi Temple, people called it “Qianxi Crimson.” Because its emergence is related to the Supreme Elder Lord’s elixir refining, it is also called “Fire Refined Elixir.”