Bamboo in China, a rich history of meaning

There are hundreds of bamboo species that grow mainly in South and East Asia. In the same way as wood, stone, sand, clay and materials of animal origin, bamboo is one of the first materials worked by the first men. The development of civilization is closely linked to the development of know-how in the use of these materials. Like wood work, bamboo work has contributed to an incredible diversity of uses in many areas.

The gentleman

In theChinese culture, bamboo, the plum tree in flowers, orchid, and chrysanthemum (known asMéi Lán Zhú Jú) are part of what is called the "Four gentlemen" These four plants also represents the four seasons, and to which particular qualities are attributed. Bamboo is part of it.

Bamboo plays such an important role in traditional Chinese culture that it is even considered a model of gentleman behavior. With its natural characteristics such as righteousness, toughness and hollow heart, people attribute to this plant of the qualities ofIntegrity, elegance and simplicity.

Innumerable poems, written by old Chinese poets, praise bamboo. They are actually talking, metaphorically, people who have exhibited these features. According to the laws, the Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty, Bai Juyi (772-846), to be a gentleman a man does not need to be physically strong, but it must be mentally Fort, right and persevering. Like a bamboo has the heart hollow, he must open his heart to accept anything beneficial and never show arrogance or prejudice.

Millennium use

The use of bamboo in China at the time neolithic It is well established, the Chinese are among the first civilizations using bamboo. The bamboo culture And its applications have played an important role in the development of Chinese civilization from prehistory until our time. Archaeological remains attesting to Chinese use of bamboo dating back to the Neolithic era have been discovered. Toward 6000 BC, bamboo patterns were used to decorate the Neolithic pottery of the culture of Yangshao.

In thePrehistoric China, bamboo has been used for many purposes, especially in the manufacture of tools, cooking utensils, fans, rafts and writing instruments.

Bamboo in modern manufacturing

There is about an about 300 bamboo species, more than any other country, covering nearly 32,000 km. The Chinese appreciate bamboo because it's a materialsolid and flexible. Bamboo is used to make a wide variety of daily items, including in the building with scaffolding or real homes. Its use in the industry is still weak, yet its rapid growth and its ability to capture CO2 make it a remarkable ally of sustainable development. The use of bamboo for the manufacture of everyday objects could meet major environmental challenges such as deforestation.

Its qualities of gentleman (integrity, elegance and simplicity) are found in the Modern objects made of bamboo.