In the Han dynasty, people sent messages on colorful letter papers, where the patterns and the handwriting together formed the very meaning of the letter. Hence the name Diehuajian—"Folded Floral Letter."
The design draws from the wing‑like extensions of the delphinium calyx and the natural curling of its petal edges. The slender stems are transformed into S‑shaped curves, like birds poised for flight, stretching freely in the wind. The blossoms are rendered as rounded cups, creating a play of strength and softness against the linear energy of the delphinium. Interspersed leaf motifs borrow the brushwork of scrolling vines and fern patterns found on Han dynasty portrait bricks.
The overall line language takes after the "iron‑wire drawing" technique of Han brick reliefs—uniform thickness, smooth and rounded turns, using the engraving tool like a brush, with a continuous, flowing rhythm. The composition follows the "scattered continuous layout" of Han brocades: flower branches are arranged in vertical strips, with each section clearly defined—orderly, rich, yet never cluttered.
