Goddess of Flowers

Baihua Zhishen—the ‘Goddess of All Flowers’—is the folk-deified patroness of blossoms. According to tradition, the Huāzhāo Festival marks her birthday, with communities across Jiangnan commonly observing either the 2nd or the 12th day of the 2nd lunar month as the ‘Birthday of All Flowers’. On this day, men and women venture outdoors for spring outings, admire blossoms, tie red silk ribbons around trees, and hang red cloth charms upon branches to celebrate the Flower Goddess’s birthday. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, dedicated Flower Goddess Temples were erected in Beijing, Suzhou, and Nanjing; these temples enshrined not only the principal Flower Goddess but also twelve subsidiary goddesses—one for each lunar month—each paired with a renowned historical figure. Horticulturists, florists, and flower merchants worshipped her to ensure abundant blooms and prosperous trade, while young women performed rites at the Huāzhāo Festival to pray for radiant beauty and auspicious marriages. Thus, devotion to the Flower Goddess became inseparably interwoven with springtime customs of outdoor celebration and floral appreciation.