Chuánshuō xiāngfēizhú shàng de bāndiǎn shì Éhuáng hé Nǚyīng wèi Shùn liúxià de yǎnlèi.
Legend has it that the spots on mottled bamboo are the tears Ehuang and Nüying shed for Shun.
Tips
usage
湘妃竹 is the poetic name of 斑竹 (mottled bamboo), after the 湘妃, the two consorts of the sage-king 舜.
culture
Legend says 舜 died on a journey to the south, and his consorts 娥皇 and 女英 wept by the 湘江 until their tears stained the bamboo. Poets use it for grief and longing, and in 《红楼梦》 the tearful 林黛玉 is nicknamed 潇湘妃子.
