IN Chinese culture, different plants represent different kinds of human characteristics. Lotus is seen as lofty and virtuous; bamboo is upright; chrysanthemum is unyielding, in full bloom amid frost; and plum blossoms brave the cold of winter. For thousands of years, a craft related to plants has added to their elegance, namely traditional Chinese flower arranging. This art form has a long history of 3,000 years and with its unique styles, it has become the origin and representative of the Oriental flower arranging genre.