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These ornate bamboo carvings are made from the cane of the bamboo. They are carefully dried and finished for long life. Each is completely unique as the artist takes advantage of the infinite variations in the natural plant. The wall carvings represent the traditional 4 seasons. The Four Gracious Plants, alternately called the Four Gentlemanly Plants, or the Four Seasons (paintings), consist of plum blossoms, orchids or wild orchids, chrysanthemums, and bamboo. Though they originally represented characteristics, they are now commonly associated with the four seasons. The Four Gracious Plants originally were Confucian symbols for the four qualities of a learned man. The plum blossoms represented courage, the orchid stood for refinement, the chrysanthemum was a sign of a productive, and fruitful life, and bamboo represented integrity. In modern times, the four have come to be associated with the seasons as well; plums blossoms bravely bloom in the cold of an early spring, orchids disseminate a dim fragrance far in the heat of summer, chrysanthemums overcome the first cold of a late fall and bloom, and bamboo bares its green leaves even in the winter. Although the plants depicted in the Four Seasons vary by culture and throughout time, bamboo is almost always a part of the seasons. Because bamboo is such an important part of Asian culture it seems fitting to use split moso bamboo canes to carve the four seasons. |
Spring |
Summer |
Fall |
Winter |
The artists serve many years in apprenticeship before taking a position as craftsman. |
The process of carving is shown here. The vase is carved from a single cane. |
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