What is the symbolic meaning and flower language of bamboo? Complete guide to the world's flower languages
The bamboo stems are tall and straight, slender, evergreen through all four seasons, and stand proud through frost and rain, making them much loved by the Chinese people; they enjoy such fine names as the "Four Gentlemen" of "plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum" and the "Three Friends of Winter" of "plum, pine and bamboo". At the same time, bamboo is also one of the forest resources, planted in large stands by people and, once mature, used for weaving, bamboo products and so on.
The symbolic meaning of bamboo:
In Chinese tradition, bamboo symbolizes the resilience of life, longevity, happiness and spiritual truth. Bamboo, elegant and full of charm, slender and graceful, ever green and unfading, symbolizes eternal youth and youthfulness; in spring (spring mountains) bamboo is free and easy, tall and straight, clear and refined, with the bearing of a gentleman; bamboo is hollow, symbolizing modesty. Its character is modest and self-restrained; bamboo bends but does not break, and breaks but does not snap, symbolizing the principle of being gentle yet firm within, of aiming for the clouds, standing firm against wind and snow, bowing down and yet rising again; the bamboo nodes are always exposed and the bamboo tips rise high, likened to noble character and integrity; noble and uncommon virtue, with nodes from birth, is regarded as a symbol of moral integrity.
Zhang Jiuling of the Tang dynasty praised bamboo, saying, "People respect its high nodes, the world knows its modest heart" ("Harmonizing with Huangmen Lu Shilang's Poem on Bamboo"). Indifferent to fame and gain, aloof and upright: the personality sought by Chinese literati. Yang Zai of the Yuan dynasty, in "Inscribing Ink Bamboo": "Its flavor is already indifferent, its color never flattering. Growing alone among cliff and valley, it has this spirit that reaches the clouds."
In Chinese tradition, bamboo symbolizes the resilience of life, longevity, happiness and spiritual truth, while in Japan bamboo is a mark of truth and devotion. Throughout the East, every region uses bamboo as a writing tool; for Buddhist and Daoist writers and artists, bamboo's straight lines and hollow structure are in themselves profoundly symbolic. Native South American tribes use bamboo as knives and axes to cut other objects, and also use bamboo to make blowguns and instruments for playing sacred music. Some tall bamboos are greatly worshipped and revered as the tree of life. In Africa, bamboo also holds a very sacred symbolic place, because people use bamboo to perform male circumcision.
Emerald green and tall and straight, with outstanding and extraordinary bearing. Whenever cold dew suddenly falls and the hundred grasses wither, bamboo alone can face the frost without fading, and may be called luxuriant through all four seasons. The bamboo culm is tall and straight node by node, with the momentum of sending up nodes and putting forth leaves, vigorous and upward, and is praised by people.
People have bestowed on it the fine reputation of a "gentleman" of steadfast character and soaring ambition, of noble integrity, and of modesty and upward striving with a free and easy bearing. Like plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and pine, it has both outstanding and extraordinary bearing and noble character, and is deeply favored by literati and people of aspiration, being chosen among the "Three Friends of Winter" and the "Four Gentlemen".
Historically many literati loved to write poems and put ink to paper for them in praise. In folk tradition there is the custom of setting off firecrackers to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, and to drive out evil and bring peace. Therefore bamboo is also regarded in Chinese decorative painting as a symbol of peace and good fortune.
The flower language of bamboo: valuing integrity, valuing trust!