Longevity

Have you ever noticed the way bamboo grows?  Unlike the average tree or bush with smaller branches spaced along a main stem or truck, bamboo shoots grow out of the joints of the stalk at distinct sections along the way.   Environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable because of its rapid growth and ability to replenish itself, bamboo is abundant and useful around the world for many applications.  Different parts of the bamboo plant are cultivated for food, building and construction materials, textiles, weaving, musical instruments and Chinese medicine.  

A favorite subject of Chinese artists, great pains are taken to capture both the strength and beauty of this versatile plant.  Brush strokes are even, measured and contemplative - painted in one motion to represent the continuity of the stalk.  Viewed from a distance, bamboo appears wispy and gentle as it bows and lifts in the breeze.  However, upon closer observation, it is much sturdier and in many ways a good metaphor for life. In Chinese Five Element Theory, bamboo represents yin wood - strong, upright and well rooted, yet flexible enough to bend and weather the storm.  Its counterpart, yang wood holds its ground in the face of adversity, sometimes becoming upended by the wind or snapping off branches in the process.