Flower Story Sparks Controversy for Chinese State Media

The mystical Udumbara flower was spotted in China. The rare event was unexpectedly reported by Chinese state-media.

Xinhua published an article about Udumbara flowers blooming in southeastern Jiangxi Province in China. The article can still be found in a Google search but the article has since been removed. Internet screenshot

The mystical Udumbara flower was spotted in China; the rare event was unexpectedly reported by Chinese state-media—and then removed.

According to Buddhist legend, the Udumbara flower blossoms only once every 3,000 years and its arrival is believed to herald the coming of a great sage or enlightened being.

In the past, China’s state media has denied the existence of the Udumbara—calling them insect eggs.

On Feb 27, state-run China News, published an article titled “Legendary Udumbara that blossoms every 3,000 years found in Lushan, Jiangxi.” The article described the flower as a “celestial nonpareil.” Eighteen of the tiny flowers, each a mere 1/32 inch tall, were found. “The nearby residents were excited about the discovery. The abbot of a temple wanted to take a picture back for worshiping purpose,” said the article.