Through this book and my paintings, I would like to lead others, as I strive myself, to seize the essence of Nature through Eastern and Western traditions, by blending with the past to better project into the future. Conscious that this may be the quest of a whole existence, I claim no more than to try to stir the interest of my readers and thus, according to the Chinese proverb, "cast a brick to draw marble."

FROM THE SOPHISTICATION of a wild orchid's long leaves and elegant flower to the spontaneity incited by plum blossoms with their thousand petals in tender tones,The Meaning of Flowers is a celebration of the diversity of the natural world.

MARRYING WATERCOLOR, oil, and calligraphy, Fu Ji Tsang offers us an original synthesis of the traditions of East and West, with artistic influences as diverse as Matisse, Monet, and the Chinese master Shitao.Fu Ji Tsang renders bamboo stalks, lotus flowers, olive trees, willows, irises, sunflowers, and peonies in bold brushstrokes and vibrant color.Following the rhythm of the seasons, these flowers and trees are accompanied by poetry from great Chinese writers such as Wang Wei and Western poets including William Shakespeare and Robert Frost, as well as the artist's personal reflections. The Meaning of Flowers provides true inspiration to artists and nature lovers alike.