in short
The three 'friends of winter': bamboo, plum blossom and pine remain a very popular motif, even today. Defying the inclemencies of weather and the seasons, they have come to symbolize endurance and hardiness. At the same time, though, they particularly lend themselves to demonstrating the painter's skill in handling the brush and ink. The artist does not attempt to render the bamboo and its friends faithfully, but rather strives to capture their essence, depicting each plant using just a few masterful strokes, usually in black ink.
