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The Three Friends of Winter, also known as Suihan Sanyou, are the pine, bamboo, and plum.[1] The pine, bamboo and plum do not wither as the cold days deepen into the winter season like many other plants, which were noted by the Chinese literature.[2] Being known as the Three Friends of Winter, they entered the conventions of East Asian culture.[3][4] They symbolize steadfastness, perseverance, and resilience.[5] They are highly regarded in the Confucianism. And they represent the scholar-gentleman's ideal.[1][6]

History[edit]

The Three Friends of Winter are common in works of Chinese art[7] and those cultures are influenced by them. The three were first recorded as appearing together in a ninth-century poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Zhu Qingyu (朱慶餘).[6] The Song Dynasty artist Zhao Mengjian (趙孟堅, c.1199-1264), among others of the time, made this group popular in painting.[6] The actual term "Three Friends of Winter" can be traced back to the earliest known mention in literature, the «Record of the Five-cloud Plum Cottage» (五雲梅舍記) from The Clear Mountain Collection by the Song Dynasty writer Lin Jingxi (林景熙, 1242-1310):[2][8] "For his residence, earth was piled to form a hill and a hundred plum trees, which along with lofty pines and tall bamboo comprise the friends of winter, were planted."[2]

It depends on the artifact involved exactly how the three plants represented artistically. In many cases, sprigs are superimposed to form a unified design. On the other hand, the plants are divided among artifacts displayed close together, as on separate scrolls; on wooden panels within buildings; and on contiguous screens, as in the example by Yamamoto Baiitsu below. In the representations on Imari porcelain from Japan, the only portions of the plants are unified at the medallion on dishes but can be treated more fully round the side of taller vessels.[9][better source needed] Being influenced by Eastern culture, the motif was later used by those in the West. Among these was Helen Hyde in her Japanese style woodblock print of 1913. Titled Three friends of winter, it depicted a young Japanese girl carrying a potted bonsai garden.[10][better source needed]

Cultural symbolism[edit]

Culturally, the Three Friends of Winter—pine, bamboo, and plum—are grouped together in the context of winter because they all flourish at that season.[1] For this reason they are commonly known as the Three Friends of Winter.[1] They are also referred to simply by their linked names: Song Zhu Mei (松竹梅) in Chinese, transliterated as Sho Chiku Bai in Japanese (literally "pine, bamboo, plum").[11] In a Korean poem by Kim Yuki (1580-1658), the Three Friends are brought together in order to underline the paradoxical contrast: Peach and plum of springtime, don't flaunt your pretty blossoms; Consider rather the old pine and green bamboo at year's end. What can change these noble stems and their flourishing evergreen?[12] In Japan, the three plants are known as 'the three auspicious friends'[not in citation given] and are particularly associated with the start of the (lunar) New Year, appearing on greeting cards and as a design stamped into seasonal sweets.[13]