Park Walker (Gardens by the Bay) - Precious Peony @Flower Dome

Park Walker (Gardens by the Bay) - Precious Peony @Flower Dome (2022 0414)

Locate: Gardens by the Bay

Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953

Getting There:

MRT BayFront (CE1/DT16) Exit B via underpass

 

Precious Peony

Precious Peony pays tribute to the journey of this revered flower of the Chinese as it made its way from China to Nanyang in the hearts and minds of immigrants in search of a new home, and how its portrayal evolved as Chinese culture itself evolved. 

Peranakan Shophouse

Step foot into the shophouse, a quintessential architectural icon that portrays Singapore’s multicultural influences. Sporting elaborate plasterwork, and vibrantly coloured tiles with motifs of flowers, birds or geometric patterns, the narrow and usually elaborate and embellished front façade gives way to long and narrow interiors.

Decorative Tiles

The traditional  shophouses that many Peranakans lived in were often decorated with vibrantly coloured glazed tiles. These were imported from as far away as Belgium, England and Japan and were seen as a status symbol during a time when imported goods were scarce. 

Pagoda

A pagoda is a tiered tower structure that symbolises sacred mountains. They were originally built to house relics or the remains of royalty and saints. 

A pavilion

A pavilion is an important feature of a Chinese garden that blends in with the surrounding natural beauty. 

Peony

Native to China and Bhutan, tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa), commonly referred to as 牡丹 in mandarin, is highly valued for its stunning display of graceful, fluffy, layered blooms. The elegant flowers of tree peonies are considered as the “king of flowers” or 花中之王 in China.

Peonies in Chinese Medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine, herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are called Shao Yao and are typically used as dried slices of the Peony root, boiled into teas or soups. Red and white Peony roots have different medicinal uses and while the red Peony roots are used to remove pathogenic heat from the blood, aiding the body’s natural response to inflammation, white Peony root is often prescribed for feminine diseases including consolidating Yin energy.  

A Scholar’s Study

The study was one of the most important rooms in the residence of a government official as it was a space that offered contemplation, tranquillity and peace of mind.

Nyonyaware

Between the late 1800s and mid-1900s, the Peranakan community would commission porcelain ware via Chinese traders whom they crossed paths with. This porcelain ware is also referred to as “nyonyaware” (after the Peranakan women – nyonyas – who used them). 

Chinese Ceramics

Ceramicware has a long history in China with the first pottery examples found in the Palaeolithic era. Since then, Chinese ceramics have ranged from utilitarian materials such as tiles to sophisticated porcelain made for imperial court and export use. First invented in China, porcelain is so closely identified with China that it is often called ‘china’ in vernacular English. 

The Peony in Peranakan Culture

The peony is a symbol of beauty, nobility, prosperity, and wealth and is considered as one of the most beautiful and significant flowers in Chinese culture. The Chinese brought the treasured peony everywhere they went, including to Singapore, and the motif has been adapted into the local Chinese and Peranakan culture.