The bamboo is a plant that is commonly found in many parts of China. It has a sleek circular stem that grows up tall and straight and leaves that are narrow and taper off at the end. Bamboo was used long ago as a building material and even today it is still used as scaffolding, as well as to make lots of household items.
1. The meaning of bamboo
The Chinese have long attached great importance to the bamboo. Its straight stem, for example, is symbolic of uprightness 直（zhí）.The bamboo is divided into sections 节（jié）, which the Chinese often associate with moral integrity 气节（qìjié). A gentleman, according to traditional Confucian values, must have moral integrity in order to be steadfast in his belief and unyielding in the face of oppression.
The bamboo stem is hollow 空心（kōngxīn）in the centre. This is significant because 空心 also means ‘being modest’虚心（xūxīn）or 谦虚（qiānxū）. Again, modesty is considered a virtue in Confuciam society.The bamboo is an evergreen plant that can live for a long time. It is known to be tough and able to withstand the bitter cold of winter. Therefore, to the Chinese the bamboo symbolizes longevity. It was also popular as an ornamental plant in the gardens of scholars and noble families.
The bamboo shoots that are the main staple of pandas come from an special type of bamboo called 箭竹（jiànzhú）, which is grown in the south-western part of China, particularly in Sichuan province.
In the early history of China, before paper was first made, bamboo slabs 竹简（zhújiǎn）were used as the main writing material.
Before the invention of firecrackers, early Chinese people used to burn bamboo, which produced a cracking sound. This was believed to bring good luck and to expel evil spirits.
竹竿 zhúgān bamboo pole（used for hanging washing, etc）
竹笠 zhúlì bamboo hat（commonly worn by fishermen in the past）
竹马 zhúmǎ literally'bamboo horse'. It was a popular game played by children in the past who used bamboo sticks as horse. The phrase 青梅竹马（'green plums and bamboo horse’）refers to a couple who always played together in their childhood day.literally 'like a strong force splitting bamboo'. This idiom is often used in a military sense, describing the overpowering might of an army.have a well-thought-out plan beforehand
