Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris)
Folk Names: Chu (Chinese), Common Bamboo, Ohe (Hawaiian), Take (Japanese)
Description: Despite its woody, jointed appearance, bamboo is related to grass. It prefers partial shade or full sun and rich, deep loam full of nitrogen. Bamboo grows in clumps of culms called sympodial, the term for tropical bamboo that grows directly from the parent, where the culm and rhizome are one.
Effects: strong
Planet: Moon, Mercury, Mars, Saturn Zodiac: Gemini
Element: all
Associated Deities: Buddha, Hina, Nuba
Traditions:
Joints of bamboo are used for divination in Buddhist temples. Buddha was thought to have once incarnated as a monkey king. Weaving a rope of bamboo, he saved 80,000 people.
In Hawaii, it is said the Polynesian goddess Hina brought Bamboo from Tahiti.
Bamboo is sacred to the Sara peoples of the Sudan. They believe it to be a gift of their sky god Nuba. In order for Su to descend to the newly created ground, Nuba extended a bamboo shoot to the earth and agreed to pull him back up when Su banged on his sacred drum. Su accidentally banged on his drum on his way to the ground and Nuba pulled the shoot up, sending Su to his death along with many bamboo seeds which scattered about making a forest.
Bamboo joints make excellent magical wands representing the four elements.
Magic:
Bamboo is protective and lucky. It may be used to break hexes or make wishes. Carve a wish on a piece of bamboo wood and bury it in a secluded place, or carve a protective symbol on the wood and plant it in ground to protect your home. Like willow, bamboo will easily begin to grow if placed in moist earth under the proper conditions. Even without a protective symbol, bamboo grown near your home will bring you good fortune. It may also be placed over a door for luck. Carry, grow, burn it as incense, or add it to a sachet to break hexes.
In China, bamboo is used as a charm against evil spirits. A flute carved with the name of the spirit (if known) makes an excellent exorcism tool. The tune played is improvised.
Known Combinations:
none known
Medical Indications: Parts Used: none
Nutrition:
The young shoots of bamboo are edible, but must be boiled and drained several times to release an irritant contained in the tissues.
Mercantile Uses:
Bamboo use may be ornamental or utilitarian. It is used in some furniture creations, and the durable poles were once used extensively in housing construction, especially during the prewar era. They are still used to build temporary fiesta structures, for fencing, and as fishing poles.
Valuable in the control of soil erosion, bamboo can be propagated from young rhizomes or from cuttings. The ready-made sections make bamboo ideal for carrying water, making pipes, and musical instruments. Split bamboo can be made into mats, hats, screens, baskets, fans, umbrellas, brushes, paper, ropes, roofing tiles, wall mats, and many other useful items.