Honghepu 瓨荷譜

Honghepu 瓨荷譜 "The book of potted lotus" was written during the mid-Qing period 清 (1644-1911) by Yang Zhongbao 楊鐘寶 (fl. 1808), courtesy name Yaoshui 瑤水, from Shanghai. His book was published in 1808 by the Baolian Hall 寶廉堂.

The first part of the book describes various kinds of lotus flowers, namely ten "large" and 7 "small" types of single-petal lotus (danbian lian 單瓣蓮), 1 type of "double-terrace" lotus (chongtai lian 重臺蓮), and 9 types of large and 6 types of small "thousand-petal" lotus (qianye lian 千葉蓮), making a total of 33 kinds or types that are described in detail.

The second part expounds six methods of cultivation, namely the creation of seedlings (Chuyang 出秧), the care of the edible roots (Shi'ou 蒔藕), positioning (Weizhi 位置), cultivation (Peiyang 培養), positive and negative influences (Xiji 喜忌), and the storage of seedlings (Zangyang 藏秧).

The book is highly praised by the conoisseur Zhou Zhongfu 周中孚 (1768-1821), author of Zhengtang dushu ji 鄭堂讀書記, and compared with Chu Hua's 褚華 Shuimitao pu 水蜜桃譜.

The text is found in the series Nongxue congshu 農學叢書 and Yihai yishao 藝海一勺.