Spotted bamboo
Encyclopedia
Spotted bamboo refers to several species of bamboo
, apparently within the genus Phyllostachys
, also known as "teardrop" bamboo and as mottled bamboo, which are types of bamboo with stems that are mottled by dark spots. The stems of the spotted bamboos are esteemed and cost-effective for making the handles of Chinese brushes
, used for calligraphy and painting.
Examples of brushes from the eighth century CE (corresponding to the Tang Dynasty
, in China) are preserved in the Shōsōin
, in Japan; in fact, the prestige value of this type of bamboo was evidently so high at the time that among the Shōsōin treasures are preserved objects made out of some sort of imitation spotted bamboo.
, because of the tears falling upon them shed by the Xiang River goddesses
, who were mourning the disappearance and presumed death of their beloved husband the Emperor Shun.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
, apparently within the genus Phyllostachys
Phyllostachys
Phyllostachys is a genus of bamboo. The species are native to Asia with a large number of species found in Central China, but can now be found in many temperate and semi-tropical areas around the world as cultivated plants or escapes from cultivation...
, also known as "teardrop" bamboo and as mottled bamboo, which are types of bamboo with stems that are mottled by dark spots. The stems of the spotted bamboos are esteemed and cost-effective for making the handles of Chinese brushes
Ink brush
Ink brushes are used in Chinese calligraphy. They are also used in Chinese painting and descendant brush painting styles. The ink brush was invented in China, believed to be around 300BCE...
, used for calligraphy and painting.
Examples of brushes from the eighth century CE (corresponding to the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, in China) are preserved in the Shōsōin
Shosoin
The is the treasure house that belongs to Tōdai-ji, Nara The building is in the azekura log-cabin style, with a raised floor. It lies to the northwest of the Daibutsuden...
, in Japan; in fact, the prestige value of this type of bamboo was evidently so high at the time that among the Shōsōin treasures are preserved objects made out of some sort of imitation spotted bamboo.
Legendary origins
There is a myth or legend that the spots which appear on the stems first appeared on the bamboo growing by the Xiang RiverXiang River
The Xiang River , in older transliterations as the Siang River or Hsiang River, is a river in southern China...
, because of the tears falling upon them shed by the Xiang River goddesses
Xiang River goddesses
The Xiang River goddesses were daughters of the Emperor Yao who were said to have been married by him to his chosen successor, and eventually emperor, Shun, as a sort of test of his administrative abilities: later they became goddesses....
, who were mourning the disappearance and presumed death of their beloved husband the Emperor Shun.
See also
- BambooBambooBamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
- Dongting LakeDongting LakeDongting Lake, or Lake Dongting is a large, shallow lake in northeastern Hunan province, China. It is a flood basin of the Yangtze River . Hence the lake's size depends on the season...
- Four Treasures of the StudyFour Treasures of the StudyFour Treasures of the Study, Four Jewels of the Study or Four Friends of the Study is an expression used to denote the brush, ink, paper and ink stone used in Chinese and other East Asian calligraphic traditions...
- Mottled BambooMottled BambooMottled bamboo is also known in Chinese as Xiangfei bamboo. It is yielded in Hunan, Henan, Jianxi and Zhejiang, China, especially the Jiuyi Mountains...
- XiaoxiangXiaoxiangXiaoxiang , also transliterated XiaoXiang. Hsiao Hsiang, and Chiu Chiang, in some older sources, refers to the "lakes and rivers" region in south central China, more-or-less corresponding with Hunan, China, south of the middle-reaches of the Yangzi River. Xiaoxiang is less a precise geographic...
- Xiang RiverXiang RiverThe Xiang River , in older transliterations as the Siang River or Hsiang River, is a river in southern China...
- Xiang River goddessesXiang River goddessesThe Xiang River goddesses were daughters of the Emperor Yao who were said to have been married by him to his chosen successor, and eventually emperor, Shun, as a sort of test of his administrative abilities: later they became goddesses....