Could the bamboo leaves in Guan Yu’s painting actually be a poem? The stone-carved words in the painting seem like a mystery to solve, just like in Detective Conan

▲Can you spot the verses hidden among the bamboo leaves?

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Guilin

At first glance, the few bamboo stalks before your eyes appear to be nothing more than an ink-rubbing painting accompanied by poetic verses. But the more you look, the more something seems off: why are some bamboo leaves sparse while others dense, and why do they grow at such peculiar angles? It turns out this bamboo painting actually conceals a five-character quatrain hidden within it.

This ink painting with a poem concealed in the bamboo is said to have been created by the famous Three Kingdoms general Guan Yu when he was trapped in Cao Cao’s camp. The painting features two bamboo stalks: the one on the left has branches slanting to the right, known as the “rain bamboo”; the one on the right appears to be swayed by the wind, hence called the “wind bamboo.” As a result, later generations often refer to this painting as the “Wind and Rain Bamboo,” which can be seen in places like the Xi’an Forest of Stone Steles and Luoyang’s Guanlin.

The branches and leaves of the two bamboo stalks are intricately interwoven in the painting, and if you look closely, you will be able to see the following words written:“I do not thank the Lord of the East for his favor, for my ink-painted image stands alone with fame. Do not disdain my lone, pale leaves — in the end, I shall never wither.”These words are said to have been left by Guan Yu after learning of Liu Bei’s whereabouts while he was in Cao Cao’s camp. Determined to leave Cao Cao and search for his sworn brother, he created this hidden-poem painting as a farewell to Cao Cao, expressing his resolve and setting forth on his journey. Later, admiring Guan Yu’s deeds and martial prowess, Cao Cao ordered the painting to be engraved onto a stone stele to pass it on through the ages, naming it the “Guan Di Poetic Bamboo Stele.”

▲The single character “带” (belt/dai) that can be broken down into an entire poem.

For travelers, trying to discern the shapes of individual characters hidden within this bamboo painting is as fun as Sherlock Holmes or Detective Conan solving a mystery. And if you find that not challenging enough, on Yangshuo’s Bilian Peak there is carved a massive 3-meter-tall character “带” (dai), created by Qing Dynasty calligrapher Wang Yuanren. Though it’s just one character, different strokes within it can be pieced together to formthe poetic line: “A belt of mountains and rivers, unparalleled in the world. Young people strive, their glory lasts forever.”As a result, some hotels display this “带” character in their lobbies, allowing guests from afar to break down and guess the hidden meanings. Have readers figured out the mystery behind it yet?

Guilin Stone Carving Forest (Guihai Stele Forest)
Address: No. 1 Longyin Road, Guilin City
Opening Hours: 09:00～17:00
Ticket: 65 RMB (included in the Seven Star Park ticket)

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