White Flowers: White flowers, particularly chrysanthemums, are strongly associated with funerals and the deceased in Chinese culture. Offering white flowers as a gift can evoke thoughts of ghosts and death, making it an inappropriate choice for a present.

As influenced by the philosophy of "harmony between man and nature," Chinese flower arrangement advocates for nature to represent life, emphasizes composition to display vividness, and focuses on connotation to exhibit artistic concepts.

In Chinese culture and most Asian cultures, color symbolism is very significant, which applies to sympathy or funeral flowers as well. Since the color white is associated with death and grief, white flowers like lilies and chrysanthemums are always appreciated. Yellow chrysanthemums are also considered suitable.

The earliest known flower arranging dates back to ancient Egypt. Egyptians were decorating with flowers as early as 2,500 BCE. They regularly placed cut flowers in vases, and highly stylized arrangements were used during burials, for processions, and simply as table decorations.