The Symbolism and Flower Language of Bamboo: A Complete Guide
Bamboo stalks are tall and straight, slender, green in all four seasons, and stand proudly through frost and rain, making them much loved by the Chinese people. They enjoy such fine titles as one of the "Four Gentlemen" of plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, and one of 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 and bamboo products.
The symbolism of bamboo:
In Chinese tradition, bamboo symbolizes the resilience of life, longevity, happiness and spiritual truth. Bamboo is elegant and full of spirit, delicate and graceful, ever green and never withering, symbolizing eternal youth and youthfulness; in spring (the 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-possessed; bamboo bends but does not break, and breaks but does not snap, symbolizing the principle of firmness within gentleness, the ambition to reach the clouds, strength against wind and snow, rising again after being bowed down, with joints always visible and tips reaching high, a metaphor for noble integrity; noble and uncommon in virtue, growing with joints from birth, it is regarded as a symbol of moral integrity.
Zhang Jiuling of the Tang dynasty praised bamboo, saying, "People respect its high integrity, the world knows its modest heart" ("Harmonizing with Huangmen Lu Shilang's Poem on Bamboo"). Indifferent to fame and gain, aloof and upright, this is the pursuit of character of Chinese literati. Yang Zai of the Yuan dynasty wrote in "Inscription on Ink Bamboo": "Its flavor is already indifferent, its color is not flattering. Growing alone among cliffs and valleys, it has this spirit of reaching the clouds."
In Chinese tradition, bamboo symbolizes the resilience of life, longevity, happiness and spiritual truth, while in Japan bamboo is a sign of truth and dedication. Throughout the various regions of the East, bamboo is used as a writing tool; for Buddhist and Daoist writers and artists, bamboo's straight lines and hollow structure carry extremely profound symbolic meaning in themselves. Indigenous tribes of South America use bamboo as knives and axes to cut other objects, and also use bamboo to make blowguns and musical instruments for sacred music. Some tall bamboos are greatly worshipped by people and revered as the tree of life. In Africa, bamboo also holds a very sacred symbolic status, because people use bamboo to perform circumcision on males.
Green and tall, with an outstanding and remarkable bearing. Whenever cold dew suddenly falls and the hundred grasses wither, bamboo alone faces the frost without fading, and may be called luxuriant through all four seasons. The bamboo culm is tall and straight joint by joint, with the momentum of jointing, sending out leaves and surging upward, and is praised by people.
People bestow on it the noble integrity of steadfast character and boundless ambition, and the reputation of a "gentleman" who is modest and aspiring, with a graceful bearing. Like plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and pine, it has both an outstanding and remarkable bearing and a noble character, and is deeply favored by literati and people of aspiration, and is chosen among the "Three Friends of Winter" and the "Four Gentlemen."
Throughout history 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, to ward off 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 trustworthiness!