The Elegance of Arahongryeon Presented at National Sejong Arboretum

Haman-gun and National Sejong Arboretum Collaborate on Exhibition

Haman-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is holding a special exhibition of Haman lotus flowers under the theme "700 Years of Ara Hongryeon, Blooming in Sejong" at the Palace Garden within the Korean Traditional Garden of the National Sejong Arboretum from the 13th of last month until August 31.

Haman-gun and National Sejong Arboretum Collaborate on Exhibition. [Image provided by Haman-gun]

This special exhibition was planned by the National Sejong Arboretum to enhance the value of K-Garden culture. The treasure flowers of Haman-gun, the "Ara Hongryeon" and the native lotus "Beopsu Hongryeon," will be the stars of the Palace Garden this summer, offering visitors their beauty.

Ara Hongryeon is a lotus flower grown from seeds recovered during the excavation of the pond site at Haman Seongsan Fortress in 2009. Radiocarbon dating revealed it to be a lotus from the Goryeo Dynasty about 700 years ago. Compared to modern lotus flowers, it has fewer petals and a subtle color, reminiscent of lotus flowers depicted in Goryeo Dynasty Buddhist paintings.

Beopsu Hongryeon, which naturally grows in Oksu Swamp in Beopsu-myeon, is a lotus from the Silla Dynasty with the same genes as the lotus in Anapji Pond in Gyeongju. It can also be seen in Gyeongbokgung Palace's Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and the pond at Tongdosa Temple.

The county has registered and managed Ara Hongryeon, which has awakened from a long sleep buried underground for over 700 years, as a trademark. To preserve its seeds, they have been deposited in the Seed Vault, a permanent seed storage facility at the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum.

On the 14th, County Governor Jo Geun-je attended the 17th Market, County Governor, and District Mayor Forestry Workshop held at the National Sejong Arboretum, then toured the Palace Garden and Solchanru Pavilion to promote Haman's lotus flowers.

He especially said, "This is the first time Ara Hongryeon has been introduced outside Haman since it first bloomed," and added, "I hope this exhibition at the National Sejong Arboretum will enhance its value and serve as an opportunity to spread awareness nationwide."

Until the end of August, 17 award-winning works from the "Haman Lotus Theme Park Lotus Photo Contest" will be exhibited at Solchanru Pavilion in the Palace Garden, and the "Photo Exhibition Praying for the World Heritage Registration of Haman Malyisan Tumuli" will be held in the lobby of the Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse until July 9.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.