General Cypress in China (1 photo)

"General Cypress" in China, captured 275 years apart.



On the left is a drawing personally created by Emperor Qianlong (Qing Dynasty) in 1750, and on the right is a photograph taken a few days earlier. The tree is the same. It grows in Dengfeng County, Henan Province, at the foot of Mount Songshan.

Emperor Qianlong painted the tree in ink during an inspection tour of the south of the country. The painting is called "Han Dynasty Cypress in Songshan." Why Han? Because Chinese chronicles tell of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty visiting that very spot in 110 BC and admiring the three cypresses there, their beauty and antiquity. He even nicknamed them "generals." The one depicted in the drawing and photo is the Second General.

Emperor Wu claimed that he was 2,300 years old. And since he himself admired the "generals" 2,135 years ago, it is believed that our cypress is already 4,500 years old. However, this is more likely a symbolic dating; such trees don't live that long. However, 2,500-3,500 years is quite realistic.