Qizhu bamboo

Qizhu bamboo

　　　Qizhu bamboo is one of the main specialties of Qichun County in Hubei Province. The Huangzhou Prefecture Annals from the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty states: “Qizhu bamboo, also known as flute bamboo, is used to make mats when its color is clear and lustrous, flutes when its nodes are sparse, and walking sticks when it has root fibers.” Because it originates from the Qizhou region and differs in characteristics and properties from ordinary bamboo, it is called Qizhu bamboo. Regular bamboo has segmented joints, while Qizhu bamboo has coiled nodes, where the sections twist around each other, forming diamond-like patterns resembling a monk’s belly. Qizhu bamboo comes in large and small varieties. Large Qizhu bamboo is about the size of a teacup (the Qichun County Cultural Center preserves a section of Qizhu bamboo that is roughly five feet long and two inches in diameter), while small Qizhu bamboo is only as thick as a walking stick. Large Qizhu bamboo is prized for making mats—its color is crystal-clear, like glass or fine jade, and its texture is tough. When split into strips, it becomes as fine as silk, and when used to make mats, it is soft as cotton and folds like cloth. In hot weather, sleeping on it is both cool and sweat-absorbing; after getting up, the imprints remain for a long time without fading. As a result, many literati in the Tang Dynasty wrote poems praising it. Han Yu wrote: “Qizhou bamboo mats are known throughout the world; those treasured by Master Zheng are especially rare and marvelous.” Flutes and pipes made from it produce tones that are clear, mellow, and soft, reminiscent of a fine stream flowing into a quiet pool or pearls dropping onto a jade plate. Bai Juyi described it as: “The flute mourns spring’s end amidst plum blossoms, the mat chills autumn into the leek leaves.”

　　 　　Qizhu bamboo originally grew in the vicinity of Qichun, such as at Qilin Mountain, Baijiazhishan Mountain, and in the northern part of the county around Triangle Mountain and Dafu Mountain. There was no shortage of it. However, due to its great fame and high demand, it became difficult for the plant to thrive. Today, only a small amount of wild Qizhu bamboo remains in remote areas of Datong and Triangle Mountain, where new shoots still emerge every year. Forestry authorities have taken measures to cultivate and protect it. In recent years, there has been a trend of this rare plant making a comeback.