Oriental cymbidium native to temperate zone of the Far East area are called $quot;lan$quot; or $quot;hae$quot; by the Korean, and they have been grown since ancient times in Korea; however, accurate cultural history of the orchids was not known up to the present.
The history of $quot;lan$quot; was studied through the review of Korean ancient literary works, poems, documents, travel descriptions, and old paintings in Chinese characters.
The first reports of $quot;lan$quot; appeared in the poem written with Chinese characters by Choi Chi-won dated in about 890 A.D. In the Shilla era (57-936 A.D.), $quot;lan$quot; was used as an exalted aromatic plant for the preparation of wine and tea, and since middle of Koryo times (about 12 centuries), $quot;Ian$quot; has been cultivated as a potted ornamental plant.
Cultivation technique and geographical distribution of Cymbidium virescens in Korea were discribed in the $quot;Yangwasorok$quot; published by Kang Hee-an in 1449.
In the King of Jungjo era (1775-1781 A.D.), Lee Dynasty, Cymbidium virescens was planted in the garden of southern parts of Korea as a landscaping plant, and Cymbidium kanran native to Cheju island in Korea was recorded in the $quot;Yeoamyoogo$quot; written by Shin Kyeong-jun in the 1780´ s. The first note of Dendrobium moniliforme utilized as medical herb was made up in the King of Seongjong era (1469-1494 A.D.), Lee Dynasty, and Aerides japonicum and Neofinetia falcata were written down by Seo Yoo-gu in his writings in the 1800´ s. Many oriental painters have favored $quot;lan$quot; pictures drawn with Chinese ink since the 1300´s(from late Koryo era to early Lee Dynasty), and the painting of Cymbidium virescens pictured in the 1500´s by Lee Jing is remaining. Therefore, the author can be imagine the cultural history of $quot;lan$quot; in that times.
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