The bamboo culture

As one of China's main producing areas of bamboo, Hunan has a long history of bamboo culture.

Bamboo is closely related to the construction of material and spiritual civilization of Hunan. As early as the Warring States Period （475-221 BC）, Chu was known for bamboo works. Even in the ancient tomb unearthed in Changsha, delicate bamboo seats were found, which shows the prosperity of bamboo culture in ancient times.

Bamboo culture contains the secret of bamboo worship (a kind of totem belief). Xiangfei Bamboo, a particular ornamental bamboo widely distributed in Hunan, is also called Banzhu (Mottled bamboo) or Leizhu (Tear bamboo). It is a kind of wild bamboo with tear-like mottled points.

According to the legend, Shun, a legendary monarch in ancient China, died on his inspection tour. His two wives E'huang and Nuying cried for his death and their tears dropped on bamboo. Xiangfei Bamboo got its name from the legend.