Holy Shoots
Because of its unique characteristics — tenacious growth and unsurpassed versatility — bamboo holds a very special place in Asian cultures. Along with pine trees and plum blossoms, bamboo is considered one of the Three Friends of Winter. Many even consider the plant to have magical properties. In Japan a bamboo forest is believed to form a barrier against evil spirits. Bamboo is an important symbol in Confucianism, and it’s also very widely used in Chinese herbal medicine.