Rose of Sharon

One plant commonly called "Rose of Sharon" in the US is Hibiscus syriacus, here seen in bloom.

Rose of Sharon is a common name that has been applied to several different species of flowering plants that are valued in different parts of the world. It is also a biblical expression, though the identity of the plant referred to is unclear and is disputed among biblical scholars. In neither case does it refer to actual roses, although one of the species it refers to in modern usage is a member of Rosaceae. The deciduous flowering shrub known as the Rose of Sharon is a member of the mallow family which is distinct from the Rosaceae family. The name's colloquial application has been used as an example of the lack of precision of common names, which can potentially cause confusion.[1] "Rose of Sharon" has become a frequently used catch phrase in poetry and lyrics.

Biblical origins

The name "rose of Sharon" first appears in Hebrew in the Tanakh. In the Shir Hashirim (Song of Songs or Song of Solomon) 2:1, the speaker (the beloved) says "I am the rose of Sharon, a rose of the valley". The Hebrew phrase חבצלת השרון (ḥăḇatzeleṯ hasharon) was translated by the KJV editors as "rose of Sharon"; however, previous translations had rendered it simply as "the flower of the field" (Septuagint "ἐγὼ ἄνθος τοῦ πεδίου",[2] Vulgate "ego flos campi",[3]Wiclif "a flower of the field"[4]). Contrariwise, the Hebrew word ḥăḇatzeleṯ occurs two times in the scriptures: in the Song, and in Isaiah 35:1, which reads, "the desert shall bloom like the rose." The word is translated "rose" in KJV, but is rendered variously as "lily" (Septuagint "κρίνον",[5] Vulgate "lilium",[6] Wiclif "lily"[7]), "jonquil" (Jerusalem Bible) and "crocus" (RSV).

Varying scholars have suggested that the biblical "rose of Sharon" may be one of the following plants:

According to an annotation of Song of Solomon 2:1 by the translation committee of the New Revised Standard Version, "Rose of Sharon" is a mistranslation of a more general Hebrew word for crocus.

Etymologists have tentatively linked the biblical חבצלת to the words בצל beṣel, meaning 'bulb', and חמץ ḥāmaṣ, which is understood as meaning either 'pungent' or 'splendid' (The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon).

A possible interpretation for the Biblical reference is Pancratium maritimum, which blooms in the late summer just above the high-tide mark. The Modern Hebrew name for this flower is חבצלת or חבצלת החוף (ḥăḇaṣṣeleṯ, or habasselet ha-khof, coastal lily). Some identify the beach lily with the "rose of Sharon" mentioned in the Song of Songs, but not all scholars accept this.[9]

Recently, some scholars have translated ḥăḇaṣṣeleṯ as "a budding bulb" in consideration of the genealogical research of multilingual versions and lexicons.[10]

Modern usage

Hypericum calycinum
Hibiscus syriacus
Hibiscus syriacus double bloom
Rose of Sharon or Althea

The name "Rose of Sharon" is also commonly applied to several different plants,[11] all originating outside the Levant and not likely to have been the plant from the Bible:

  • Hypericum calycinum (also called Aaron's Beard due to its net-veined underside and numerous yellow stamens), an evergreen flowering shrub native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia
  • Hibiscus syriacus, a deciduous flowering shrub native to east Asia
  • Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Var. “Vulcan”)

And varieties of Iris, Malus domestica and Paeonia lactiflora

National flower of Korea

Mugunghwa (무궁화) (Hibiscus syriacus) is the national flower of South Korea. The mugunghwa first became the national flower of Korea during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945) when it was overwhelmingly selected by the people as the floral symbol of their nation.[12] The actual term mugunghwa was first employed during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). During the Goryeo Dynasty and Joseon Dynasty eras (1392-1910), it was common practice for kings to reward those who successfully passed the civil service examinations with paper made mugunghwa.[13] Many Koreans attempted to counter colonial Japan's racial assimilation policy by planting mugunghwa nationwide symbolizing independence for Korea. The mugunghwa which regularly returns a day after seemingly having faded away became a symbol of a desire for a Korea independent of Japan.[14]

The first record of the Rose of Sharon grown in Korea is mentioned in an article produced 1,400 years ago. A mythological fiction, Xuanzhongji (Hanja:玄中記), written in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (Hanja:東晉) of China, mentions "The Land of Wisemen is spread for 1,000 li where mugungwha flowers bloom plentifully"(君子之國，地方千里，多木槿之華). The name mugungwha was first used by the poet Lee Gyu-bo (이규보,1168 – 1241) of the Goryeo Dynasty.

References

  1. ↑ Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, Australia: Why use a scientific name? Archived 2015-09-05 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Song 2:1, Septuagint
  3. ↑ Song 2:1, Vulgate
  4. ↑ Song 2:1, Wiclif
  5. ↑ Is 35:1, Septuagint
  6. ↑ Is 35:1, Vulgate
  7. ↑ Is 35:1, Wiclif
  8. ↑ McClintock, John; Strong, James (1889). "Rose". Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, Vol. IX RH-ST. New York: Harper & Brothers. p. 128. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Coastal Lily at wildflowers.co.il (Hebrew)
  10. ↑ Satoshi Mizota. Origin of 'Rose of Sharon' : An Analysis of Various Translations Having a Bearing on The Authorized Version Text. Dissertation for MA: Aich University, 2008."Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  11. ↑ Rose of Sharon at rhs.org.uk
  12. ↑ Yu 2008, p. 10
  13. ↑ Yu 2008
  14. ↑ Yu 2008, p. 10

Sources

  • Crawford, P. L. (1995). "Rose". In Paul J. Achtemeier (gen. ed.). Harper's Bible Dictionary. San Francisco: Harper. p. 884.
  • Davidson, Benjamin (1978) [1848]. The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon (1st softcover ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. p. 246. ISBN 0-310-39891-6.
  • Lapp, N. L. (1985). "Sharon". In Paul J. Achtemeier (gen. ed.). Harper's Bible Dictionary. San Francisco: Harper. pp. 933–4.
  • Scott, R. B. Y. (1991). "Annotations to Song of Solomon". The New Oxford Annotated Bible. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 854 OT.
  • Yu, Myŏng-jong; Lee, Ji-Hye; Chŏn, Sŏng-yŏng (2008). 100 Cultural Symbols of Korea: 100 windows showcasing Korea (First ed.). 431, King’s Garden Office Hotel 3rd Complex, 72 Naesoo-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea: Discovery Media.
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