A simplified technique which cryoprotects zygotic embryos by encapsulation-dehydration was developed for the germplasm conservation of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.). The highest survival rate $(85\%)$ was obtained from embryos treated by encapsulation-dehydration. The zygotic embryos were precultured on MS medium containing 0.3mg/L $GA_3$ for 1 day. The precultured embryos were encapsulated in $3\%$ (w/v) alginate beads and immersed for 1 h in MS medium containing 2 M glycerol and 0.5 M sucrose. The encapsulated embryos were dehydrated for 5h by air drying prior to direct immersion in liquid nitrogen. This encapsulation-dehydration method appears to be a promising technique for germplasm cryopreservation of a herbaceous peony.