湘妃竹

Traditional form:

湘妃竹

Pinyin (reading):

xiāngfēizhú

Definitions:

• same as 斑竹 (bānzhú), mottled bamboo, since according to legend the spots on mottled bamboo are marks left by the tears shed by two of King Shun's 舜 ( Shùn) concubines (Ehuang 娥皇 ( Ehuáng) and Nüying 女英 ( Nüyīng), known as the Concubines of the Xiang 湘妃 ( Xiāng Fēi)) upon learning of his death

Characters:

• 湘 - Hunan province; the Xiangjiang river
• 妃 - wife, spouse; imperial concubine
• 竹 - bamboo; flute

Traditional characters:

• 湘 - Hunan province; the Xiangjiang river
• 妃 - wife, spouse; imperial concubine
• 竹 - bamboo; flute