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Role in culture

In Chinese culture, plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are well-known as the "four gentlemen" in plants. These four plants also represent the four seasons and four aspects of a gentleman. To many distinguished men, bamboo is a symbol of virtue and integrity. It is always closely related to people of positive spirits. Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) poet Bai Juyi summarized the merits of bamboo according to its characteristics: its deep root denotes resoluteness, straight stem represents honorability, its interior modesty and its clean exterior exemplifies chastity. Bamboo culture always plays a positive role in encouraging people to hold on when facing tough situations.