“The Gentleman from East” – Bamboo – Chinese Painting Appreciation

In Chinese tradition, bamboo symbolizes the elasticity, longevity, happiness and spiritual truth of life.

Bamboo has an unusual Chinese traditional cultural meaning. Bamboo is always green and symbolizes tenacious life and youth forever; bamboo hollow represents the character of the open mind; its branches are not bent, it is the principle of being a soft person. There are festivals and bamboo festivals that are symbols of a gentleman’s traits. Bamboo’s straightforward and free, honest and high, clear and handsome is also the pursuit of Chinese literati personality.

竹，秀逸有神韵，纤细柔美，长青不败，象征青春永驻，年轻；春天（春山）竹子潇洒挺拔、清丽俊逸，翩翩君子风度；竹子空心，象征谦虚。品格虚心能自持，竹的特质弯而不折，折而不断，象征柔中有刚的做人原则，凌云有意、强项风雪、偃而犹起，竹节必露，竹梢拔高，比喻高风亮节；品德高尚不俗，生而有节，视为气节的象征。唐张九龄咏竹，称“高节人相重，虚心世所知”（《和黄门卢侍郎咏竹》）。淡泊、清高、正直，中国文人的人格追求。元杨载《题墨竹》：“风味既淡泊，颜色不斌媚。孤生崖谷间，有此凌云气。”

在国画中，竹与梅花、喜鹊画在一起，有爱情长久、幸福美满的美好的寓意。