The Bamboo

Bamboo Grove. Unknown artist. Edo period (1615-1858), second half of 17th century. Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, colour, gold, gold leaf on paper.

BACKGROUND

Bamboo images are part of the “four gentlemen” in traditional Chinese art, together with plum blossoms, chrysanthemums, and orchids. In China, it came to symbolise resilience and strength. Images of bamboo dancing in the wind, are associated with a person of a strong character, who is capable of withstanding life's hardships. Just like bamboo under the wind – bending, but not breaking.

THE TALE OF THE BAMBOO CUTTER

and other folklore

In Japan, the most beautiful legend involving bamboo dates back to the 10^th century. It tells about a poor bamboo cutter, who found a baby princess in a bamboo stalk, brought her home to his wife and took care of the princess until she grew up. After adopting the little princess Kaguya (that was her name), bamboo cutter started finding gold nuggets in the stalks that he cut. When princess Kaguya grew up, she became so beautiful, that even the Emperor got smitten with her beauty and tried to propose marriage to her, but was turned down. Princess Kaguya, who was from the Moon and eventually flew back there, gifted the Emperor a vial with an elixir of eternal life. But the Emperor, hopelessly in love, didn't want to spend an eternity without the princess and ordered the vial to be sent to the Mount Fuji and burned. This became the most poetic explanation of the natural phenomenon of the eternal plume of smoke rising above the top of Mount Fuji.

Kuroda and Kodai Fish with Bamboo Shoots and Berries, from the series Uozukushi (Every Variety of Fish) by Utagawa Hiroshige; c 1830; Edo Period; woodblock print, ink and colour on paper.

PRACTICAL USE

Interestingly, just like many other esteemed and beloved symbols of Japanese (and Chinese) culture, bamboo has many universal and highly practical qualities. China was the first country to utilize bamboo pulp in paper-making. In arts, brush barrels for painting are made from bamboo throughout Asia. Bamboo is used in construction, thanks to its durability and resistance to rot. Some of the oldest boats (junks) seen in the Southern China rivers, were made with bamboo stalks. In movies, the most skilful martial arts fighters easily win over their opponents with bamboo sticks. The list of traditional and modern uses of bamboo is practically endless.

In cuisine, edible bamboo shoots, just like chrysanthemums, can be boiled, pickled, fried, fermented. It is added to rice, simmered with chicken and veggies, and offered as a year-round crunchy side dish.

The Tale of Bamboo Cutter. Edo period. Late 17th century. Ink, colour, gold, gold leaf on paper.

SHINTO

In Japan, bamboo symbolizes purity and bamboo groves are often grown next to shinto shrines and buddhist temples to ward off evil. The traditional bamboo water fountain at the entrance of shinto shrines is said to be an image of the purity of bamboo and sacred bamboo seeds. Apparently, there was a mythical phoenix bird, often found in Japanese art, said to it only bamboo seeds.

Matsuo Basho, when visiting a city of Katsuragi in the Yamato province, wrote a haiku about his reclusive life at the time:

beating a cotton bow

comforting like a lute,

deep in the bamboo.

綿弓や琵琶になぐさむ竹の奥

[watayumi ya biwa ni nagusamu take no oku]

Bamboo grove next to Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto.

Images: The Met, Yasa Art Studios.