Bao-xiang flower 寳相花

​lit. buddha-like flower / treasure flower

pronounced as: ​​bao sh'young flower

​
​The baoxiang flower or "bao-xiang hua" is a type of fictional, hybrid floral design. Each individual design represents a fusion of plants and motifs originated from different cultures, including South Asia (India), Central Asia (Persia/Sogdia), the Mediterranean (Byzantium & Greece), and Chinese domestic arts. ​

• ​The baoxiang flowers used in "Duan-Xiu" and Fen-Tao" are adapted from the Tang dynasty (618-907) murals in Cave no. 45 and no. 321 of Mogao Caves, Dunhuang.​ Particularly, Cave no. 45 dates back to the High Tang era (of Tang dynasty), a prime time of cultural and economic exchange in Asia.​​

​ Reference:

1. Zhang, Ying 张莹. "The Essential Features and Modern Design Application of Baoxiang Flower with the Example from Dunhuang Caves of the Tang Dynasty" 宝相花基本特征及现代设计应用举要--以唐代敦煌石窟宝相花为例. master's thesis., China Academy of Art 中国美术学院, 2018. CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) 中国知网​ (J522).

• This academic journal (in simplified Chinese) can be purchased from CNKI via. ​http://cdmd.cnki.com.cn/Article/CDMD-10355-1018180651.htm (Alipay required)