Flower-elves of the secluded garden

Overview

A retired scholar devoted to his secluded garden receives a moonlit visit from graceful maidens whose sleeves release an unearthly fragrance. Four introduce themselves as Salix in green, Prunophora in white, Persica in rose and Punica in dark red. They call themselves sisters and say they are on their way to visit eighteen zephyr-aunts. The aunts arrive at the garden instead, and the company shares a magical banquet with music and dancing.

The gathering ends badly when an aunt spills nectar on Punica’s clothing. Punica angrily challenges her, and the offended aunts leave despite the others’ apologies. The next night the maidens explain that they live in the garden and normally depend on these aunts to protect them from harmful winds. Fearing the loss of that protection, they ask the scholar to raise a scarlet flag depicting the sun, moon and five planets. He follows their instructions; a violent east wind breaks surrounding trees while the garden’s flowers remain still.

The narrative then identifies Salix with the willow, Prunophora with the plum, Persica with the peach and Punica with the pomegranate. The eighteen aunts are wind-spirits. In gratitude, the maidens bring radiant flowers that restore the scholar to youth when he eats them; he later attains hidden wisdom and joins the Immortals. The episode therefore makes protection reciprocal: he shields their growing forms, and they give him renewed life.

The translator’s note explains that these Latin plant-names represent Chinese family-name puns rather than reproduce the original names. The maiden names must not be presented as independently attested Chinese divine names. The wind-aunts’ relationship is the story’s kinship language, without supplied parentage. The scholar initially wonders whether his visitors come from the Moon Lady or Queen-Mother of the West, but they decline that exalted ancestry; the question is not evidence that either goddess sent them.

Origins & earliest records

Chinese tales mediated by Richard Wilhelm and Frederick H. Martens

Records & interpretation

Complete tale and its attached source note read in the retained1921-edition transcription.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   The Chinese Fairy Book

   Richard Wilhelm, editor; Frederick H. Martens, translator · 1921

   The Flower-Elves, pp.119–123; New York, Frederick A. Stokes Company

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

References

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1. Historical translated taleWilhelm/Martens, The Chinese Fairy Book, The Flower-Elves, pp.119–123Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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