★ This book is an annotated and interpreted edition of the Qing dynasty work Manual of Celebrated Flowers by Shen Fu. It compiles classical material on the characteristics, cultivation, and appreciation of over 90 renowned flowers and exceptional trees, offering detailed and practical reference for flower enthusiasts, admirers, and growers.
★ The editor begins by examining core details such as the edition, author, and historical context of the original text. Each plant entry is systematically presented with the original passage, annotations, and a modern translation, supplemented by textual notes and corrections—making the content clear, professional, and accessible.
★ The editor holds a Ph.D. in Classical Chinese Literature and serves as an associate professor at a university. She has led multiple provincial-level social science and postdoctoral research projects and published over twenty academic papers, ensuring authoritative annotations and rigorous scholarship.

This volume is an annotated and interpreted edition of Manual of Celebrated Flowers, originally composed by Shen Fu, also known as the “West Lake Resident Master,” during the Qing dynasty. It brings together classical references on the properties, cultivation, and appreciation of more than 90 celebrated flowers and extraordinary trees.
Focusing on traditional Chinese horticultural culture and practices, the book revives the lifestyle of ancient literati while preserving China’s gardening heritage. It also explores the modern relevance of classical horticultural wisdom, facilitating the accessibility and transformation of ancient texts for contemporary readers.
The editor begins by investigating the edition, authorship, content, features, transmission, and influence of the original Manual of Celebrated Flowers. Subsequently, each plant is presented in a structured format containing the original text, annotations, a modern translation, and occasional textual notes for correction.
Rich in classical quotations, supported by analysis and collation of editions, and organized with clarity, this volume is both scholarly and reader-friendly—an ideal reference for anyone who loves, admires, or grows flowers.

Cheng Yujing

Cheng Yujing, born in 1978 in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, earned her Ph.D. in Classical Chinese Literature from the School of Chinese Language and Literature, Nanjing Normal University, in June 2014. She currently serves as an Associate Professor in the College of Humanities and Law, Hebei University of Science and Technology, and is also a faculty member in the Postdoctoral Research Station of the School of Literature, Hebei University. She is a council member of the Ouyang Xiu Research Society, a member of the Song Dynasty Literature Society, and a member of the Literary Geography Society. Dr. Cheng has independently published over twenty academic papers, six of which are included in core journals. She has authored one monograph, co-authored one book (as second author), and contributed to two edited volumes. She has led one Hebei Provincial Social Science Fund project and one China Postdoctoral Science Fund project, and participated in one major national social science research project.