Bamboo Myths And Legends In Asian Folklore

Bamboo use in the Asian region is wide and varied. They've been utilising all it's

attributes for centuries, whether for building,clothing, decorative features or as

a food source. Well, it's no surprise that a lot of Asian legend and myth features

the bamboo plant.

The fact that bamboo is so long-lasting makes it a symbol of long life in China,

while in India it symbolizes friendship. In contrast, due to its rare blossoming,

the flowers are often regarded as a sign of imminent famine.

The bamboo plant is surrounded by a rich mythology. In the Andaman Islands, as

well as other Asian cultures, there is a legendary belief that the humanity has

emerged from a bamboo stalk. The Philippine creation myth states that the first

bamboo stalk showed up on an island that was created after the great battle of the

two elemental forces of Sky and Ocean. This stalk was the origin of the first man

and first woman. A similar legend exists in the Malaysian mythology, where a man

awakens after sleeping on a bamboo plant; then waking up and breaking it's stalk

to discover a woman inside.

For the Chinese people, the bamboo, is held in high esteem, along with orchids,

plum blossom and chrysanthemum. Each of these plants represents a season. In

Confucianism, each of them symbolizes a certain aspect of the junzi (noble

person). The bamboo is also admired for its great resistance under harsh weather

conditions, along with the pine tree and plum blossom. These three plants are

referred to as the Three Friends of Winter.

A bamboo forest in Japan will form a barrier against evil.Bamboo is highly

regarded and is incorporated into the language when ordering such things as sushi.

The bamboo holds an unique place in several Asian cultures and is regarded as a

very special plant due to its unique characteristics. It is surrounded by a wide

variety of symbols, all of which used to be very important in people's life during

ancient times.