Abstract

The roses we enjoy today are prized for their vibrant hues, captivating fragrance, abundant petals, robust health, and continual flowering. However, prior to the introduction of roses from China to the Western world in the 1700s, European varieties were characterized by a limited color palette and sporadic repeat blooming. Despite their shortages in fragrance and petal count, China roses (Rosa chinensis) played a pivotal role in the development of modern rose cultivars. Through extensive cultivation and breeding efforts in Europe and America, rose hybridizers pioneered an abundance of species categorized as Hybrid Chinas, Noisettes, Bourbons, Hybrid Perpetuals, Hybrid Teas, etc. These hybridization endeavors are documented in letters, 6 garden diaries, flower portraits, nursery catalogs, and trade records. While European horticulturists were captivated by roses, primary Chinese documents on the subject are relatively scarce compared to other botanical topics on the plum and peach. Although the 18th-century interactions between China and Europe serve as a focal point for many discussions on China roses, much remains unknown about the Chinese perspective. This paper delves into earlier texts from China during the Ming dynasty between the 16th and 17th centuries.

Keywords: Ming Dynasty, China, 18th Century, Europe, Rosa Chinensis, Rose Hybridization, Botanical History, European Horticulture

How to Cite:

Hsu, A., (2025) “Roses Across Borders: Tracing the Textual History and Cultural Exchange of Roses between Ming Dynasty China and 18th Century Europe”, Footnotes: A Journal of History 7, 44-64.