湘妃竹 xiāng fēi zhú

DEFINITIONS

  1. same as 斑竹[ban1 zhu2], 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[Shun4] concubines (Ehuang 娥皇[E2 huanɡ2] and Nüying 女英[Nü3 yinɡ1], known as the Concubines of the Xiang 湘妃[Xiang1 Fei1]) upon learning of his death

CHARACTERS

湘 xiāng Hunan province
妃 fēi wife, spouse; imperial concubine
竹 zhú bamboo; flute; KangXi radical 118