Peony | Chi Shao

The Peony is a long-lived garden flower. It is unusual in that although its blooms seem fragile and evanescent, the root actually needs and will withstand freezing cold winter temperatures, and the plant has the longevity of a human being, coming back year after year when well established, and living to the age of 70 or more.
The Peony has long been revered for its protective powers. Worn, it guards the body, spirit, and soul; place in the home it wards off evil spirits and planted in the garden it protects it against evil and storms. The seeds or roots are hung around a child’s neck to guard it from mischievous fairies and imps. A variation of this entails carving peony roots into small beads (called “piney beads”) and then stringing them. These are also worn for protection. Peony roots worn with coral and flint keep away the incubus.