The Flower Crown
Flowers, something associated with fragility, women and gentleness. Well it wasn't always like that, centuries ago, a flower crown was deemed something dangerous, a curse object, whoever who wears the crown will be followed by tons of spirits that will drive people crazy.
Those who wear it and keeps their sanity are considered gods or heroes that the people should worship. Though there were little to no that can withstand the crown's power. The last person that wore the crown was the founder of the Shen Hun sect who had lived over hundreds of years before disappearing into seclusion along with the cursed object. But ever since then, the descendants of the Shen Hun sect were given the power to infect people with mother nature and their souls will be captured by the crown hidden somewhere, never to reincarnate and dissipate.
Currently, the only two that have this ability is Wang Jun and Shen Yuqing.
Summary
This myth originated when the god of nature from the previous dynasty of gods, created an artifact for his lover, unable to protect them by physical means, they can only protect them using a magical artifact that gave them the ability to control the roots of nature. A lot have lusted for the artifact and had fallen prey to the artifact. Only it traps the spirits and resentment of those that died and suck the life force of the user. To save them, the god urged them to learn cultivation to control the artifact but it was too late.
Unable to stand it anymore, the artifact was toss towards their descendant, the house of Shen and since then the artifact has been lost to the world.
Flowers, something associated with fragility, women and gentleness. Well it wasn't always like that, centuries ago, a flower crown was deemed something dangerous, a curse object, whoever who wears the crown will be followed by tons of spirits that will drive people crazy.
Those who wear it and keeps their sanity are considered gods or heroes that the people should worship. Though there were little to no that can withstand the crown's power. The last person that wore the crown was the founder of the Shen Hun sect who had lived over hundreds of years before disappearing into seclusion along with the cursed object. But ever since then, the descendants of the Shen Hun sect were given the power to infect people with mother nature and their souls will be captured by the crown hidden somewhere, never to reincarnate and dissipate.
Currently, the only two that have this ability is Wang Jun and Shen Yuqing.
The artifact however has been long gone and not found even after the end of the story, but Zhuju is able to replace it with the Xianhua tree.
Historical Basis
This myth was originally transmitted by the House of Shen as a family story, it's children excitedly told the others and it became a very interesting story. Not so interesting anymore when people had died because of it. There was a mob that tried to attack a wearer but they were proved too powerful and hence they were worshiped though not as a hero per say, but the wearers after them was far more heroic and pitiful, a few had used the crown to save people but was condemned by their peers for using such a demonic artifact, especially when they were from cultivation sects that have zero tolerance of demons and spirits.
Evidence can be seen through the descendants who have this power, Wang Jun though he doesn't like using this power, can use the roots of the Xian Hua tree to kill people. He had awakened this power after training for real. His distant cousin, Song Ran used this to kill his senior brother but because Ying Chun became cursed by the Shenhua tree, he had absorbed the ability to manipulate nature from him.
It is said that Ying Chun did hear the voice and memories of that Nature God.
Spread
It's well known in the East where the house of Shen and the God of Nature was born but it has spread throughout China.
The North, where the Tian Chen sect originates is well aware of Song Zhenji's powers and were very sure her son had inherited it seeing as he loved flowers.
The South, where Shen Yuqing's sect is, it is also somewhat known though it's not as popular as the myth of the swimming jade.
Variations & Mutation
The original myth was pretty much still the same if transmitted from a word from the house of Shen. Song Zhenji's mother was a direct descendant of the house of Shen, hence she knew the story and passed on to her disciples.
But if transferred from let's say the West or even the South, there might be some extra information, like how the demons are worshiping the crown hence why they are so powerful and wild, or how the God of Nature is still around and helping those with the power to massacre people and go crazy, not wanting anybody but his lover to have the power or wear it.
Some say that all flowers are poisonous and related but that was too far fetched given that most flowers are used for medicine.
Cultural Reception
It's a nice story to transfer around and scare children but the artifact was not seen in a few years, hence people might forget or not believe that it existed and it was just a toss of blame to the people that use the powers for malicious deeds.
In Literature
There are a few poems and stories of flower demons and love about the flower crown that musicians in tavern might sing. They are popular in the East and North.
In Art
There is art depicting the story of the God of Nature in the records of the Shen Hun sect but they are not mass produced and normally other artists might have their own take in it. Some drew them as women, some drew them as men, some drew them as man and woman but in the actual illustration, the God of Nature was a man, but his lover is rather ambiguous, some might even think they could be a demon or a spirit.
Date of First Recording
600 AD
Date of Setting
599 AD
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