The bamboo plant is the staple food of the giant panda and a cultural icon in Chinese history. In ancient China bamboo was a feature of various aspects of daily life. It was used for food, clothing, housing and transportation. China's first books were crafted from bamboo strips strung on string, and almost all ancient musical instruments were made of bamboo. Bamboo also had assigned roles within feudal ethics.

Chinese ancients designated the plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum as "four gentlemen," and pine, bamboo and plum as the "three friends in winter." Renowned Tang poet Bai Juyi (772-846) summed up the merits of bamboo according to its characteristics: its deep root denotes resoluteness, its tall, straight stem represents honorability, its hollow interior modesty and its clean and spartan exterior exemplifies chastity. He thus concluded that bamboo lives up to the title "gentleman."

An oil painting by late artist Chen Yifei features a woman playing bamboo flute.

Besides being a symbol of virtue, bamboo was believed to be endowed with soul and emotion.

Chinese people designate the plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum as "four gentlemen".