The Significance of Bamboo in Poetry of Qing Dynasty
In the poetry of Qing Dynasty, bamboo was endowed with multiple meanings. First of all, bamboo is regarded as a symbol of purity. Bamboo towering into the sky, not afraid of cold and heat, symbolizes the poet's noble character and tenacious will. Secondly, bamboo is considered as a symbol of elegance. Bamboo is handsome in appearance, slender in leaves, straight and upright, which symbolizes the poet's cultural accomplishment and elegant temperament. Besides, bamboo is regarded as a symbol of arrogance. Bamboo is independent of Shan Ye and does not compete with other plants, which symbolizes the poet's spirit of detachment and independence.
How do poets use the image of bamboo
In the poems of Qing Dynasty, poets used the image of bamboo in different ways. Some poets express their feelings by describing the shape of bamboo. For example, Kang Youwei's "Floating Valley Bamboo" said: "The green leaves are like blades, straight as rafters, picturesque and towering into the clouds." Some poets express their thoughts by describing the growing environment of bamboo, such as Huang Jingren's Zhuzhi Ci: "Independent mountain forests do not compete with vegetation. The spring breeze is blowing, the bamboo shadow is swaying, and it is elegant and detached. " Some poets use the image of bamboo through metaphor, such as Zheng Xie's Fu Zhu: "I think bamboo is noble, like a gentleman's noble."