3 Harmony with Nature: The Application of Bamboo as a Reflection of the ‘Harmony Between Man and Nature’ in Traditional Chinese Creative Philosophy
In Chinese culture, bamboo is more than just a plant – it is a cultural symbol. Su Shi, the great writer of the Northern Song dynasty, once said: “Better to have no meat than no bamboo.” Bamboo is found throughout China, and as Joseph Needham noted in Science and Civilisation in China: “No other plant symbolizes the Chinese landscape as distinctively, nor holds such an important place in China’s artistic and technological history.” Over 7,000 years ago, the ancient Chinese were already weaving daily necessities from bamboo, reflecting both a traditional approach to using natural resources and the Chinese philosophy of “Harmony Between Man and Nature.”
1. The multiple properties of bamboo and its design value
Bamboo, as a unique natural resource, blends natural, creative, and cultural attributes that form its comprehensive value.
From a natural perspective, bamboo is a fast-growing grass species, usually reaching harvestable height within a short time, and therefore highly sustainable.
Thanks to its unique internal structure (see Figure 1), bamboo also features light weight, considerable toughness, and high tensile strength.
Fig. 1
From a craft perspective, bamboo mainly consists of roots, stems, branches, and leaves (see Figure 2). Its processing is relatively straightforward, and different parts can be used to manufacture various products, meeting diverse needs. Throughout history, bamboo has satisfied people’s material requirements and served as an important medium for artistic creation.
Fig. 2
In Chinese culture, phrases like “Better to eat without meat than to live without bamboo” highlight the special status of the plant. Because of its natural, creative, and cultural attributes, bamboo carries both physical and aesthetic value in modern society. Physically, its lightness and toughness make it widely used in architecture and furniture. Aesthetically, its natural, fresh, and elegant qualities are admired in many art forms. This dual value ensures bamboo’s enduring significance in contemporary life.
2. The Current Situation and Future Challenges of Traditional Bamboo Weaving Craftsmanship
2.1 Traditional Bamboo Weaving Craft
Bamboo, as the main material of traditional Chinese handicrafts, possesses unique physical characteristics and rich cultural connotations, giving rise to numerous distinctive handicrafts. Among them, bamboo weaving is a typical example. It involves splitting bamboo into thin strips and weaving them to create daily necessities and decorations. As a traditional craft, bamboo weaving has carried a rich cultural and historical heritage since the Neolithic Age. Valued for its natural materials, intricate craftsmanship, and practicality, it is an important part of traditional Chinese handicrafts. It records the wisdom of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature and reflects the social and cultural characteristics of different historical periods.
2.2 The Current Situation of the Bamboo Weaving Industry
Entering the 21st century, advancements in social production levels and scientific technology have impacted the bamboo weaving industry, leading to its gradual decline, with only a few artisans persisting2. As a traditional folk craft, bamboo weaving embodies “bamboo culture,” which is deeply ingrained in the national spirit and aligns with current sustainable development concepts. Consequently, the government has increased support for bamboo weaving: in June 2008, bamboo weaving was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage; in October 2023, the National Development and Reform Commission’s “Three-Year Action Plan for Accelerating the ‘Bamboo Instead of Plastic’ Development” aimed to establish a preliminary “bamboo instead of plastic” industry system by 2025. This provides assurance and support for the contemporary inheritance and development of bamboo weaving craftsmanship.
To explore the reasons behind the decline of the bamboo weaving industry and seek innovative development paths, the team conducted a literature review and identified that the industry’s constraints mainly stem from two significant social changes:
- The Impact of Modern Production Methods
With industrialization, mass production and low-cost methods have significantly affected the traditional bamboo weaving industry. For example, as shown in Figure 3, under the same specifications, the cost of plastic products is only one-fourth that of bamboo weaving products. This indicates that in the traditional daily necessities market, bamboo weaving has lost its competitive edge, limiting its market share. - Transformation of Modern Lifestyle
As modern lifestyles change, the use of traditional bamboo products like brooms and backpacks is decreasing. Additionally, people’s aesthetic preferences have evolved. Compared to traditional bamboo products, consumers now prefer more diverse forms. In terms of color, shape, texture, and spatial coordination, bamboo products do not exhibit clear advantages.
Fig. 3. Comparison of Bamboo Weaving and Plastic Products
2.3 Analysis of the Core Issues of the Bamboo Weaving Industry
The team visited bamboo weaving clusters in Liangping (Chongqing), Chishui (Guizhou), and Baijie (Luzhou), interviewing independent artists, company-employed artisans, inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, and studio managers. These interviews focused on profitability, production/sales, and attitudes toward innovation (see Figure 4). Findings indicate two main issues:
- Production Process: Slow cycle, high labor cost Traditional bamboo weaving is purely handmade, requiring over ten steps – such as drying, polishing, and painting – taking 7–10 days or more. This low efficiency and high labor cost raise final product prices.
- Product Type: Traditional and lacking innovation Interviews show that most practitioners still produce traditional items with limited functionality and outdated forms. However, due to constrained capabilities and habitual business models, they have not realized innovative designs3.
Fig. 4
2.4 Development and Opportunities of the Bamboo Weaving Industry
Online and offline surveys of younger demographics reveal strong interest in bamboo weaving due to its unique craftsmanship and historical value. Many people long for the return of bamboo products to modern life, as they offer emotional appeal not found in industrial goods.
Preserving traditional essence while leveraging bamboo weaving’s uniqueness in contemporary designs is key to its revival. Designers must deeply understand bamboo’s physical and processing traits, systematically study traditional techniques, use modern technology to boost efficiency, and create designs that match modern lifestyles and aesthetics. This approach can breathe new life into bamboo weaving, enabling it to flourish in today’s society.
3. Innovative Design Strategies and Practices in Bamboo Weaving
3.1 Innovative Design Strategy for Bamboo Weaving
Based on the findings of previous field research, the team proposed targeted strategies for its current situation (see Figure 5).
Fig. 5
Improving Production Efficiency:
Organizing Traditional Bamboo Weaving Processes with Modern Technological Assistance
To address the low efficiency and income in bamboo weaving, our main focus is enhancing production efficiency. We recorded and clarified the entire bamboo weaving process in detail to identify the precautions, time requirements, and tools used at each step, aiming to improve production efficiency while respecting traditional craftsmanship and preserving bamboo’s physical properties through modern technological assistance.
Using field research methods, the team tracked the production process of bamboo artisans, keeping detailed records from material selection to finished products (Figure 6), leading to the following findings:
- The bamboo weaving process consists of 14 steps, covering material selection, preparation, and weaving.
- During material preparation, artisans rely on experience using a single tool, which is time-consuming, physically demanding, and has a certain waste rate.
- The weaving process includes over ten common patterns (Figure 7). As handmade products cannot ensure uniform specifications, artisans must adjust weaving techniques as needed, increasing difficulty and reducing controllability.
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Summarizing the traditional process shows that modern technological tools can assist in material handling (e.g., scraping, rolling, and segmenting). Using blades and power tools of different widths significantly improves efficiency. Meanwhile, introducing new materials as accessories not only compensates for bamboo’s durability and strength limitations but also enriches product design to meet modern needs.
Shifting Product Demands:
Integrating the Conversion of Traditional Functional Objects with Modern Spiritual Needs.
Literature research indicates that traditional bamboo weaving products were mostly used in agriculture, daily life, and furniture. Their practicality and application scenarios no longer align with modern demands, causing market competition difficulties.
Bamboo products must highlight their social and cultural elements, contrasting with industrial goods and evoking memories and emotions linked to tradition. Innovative design should expand traditional functions to meet modern requirements. By deconstructing and reconstructing traditional forms and integrating modern design, it stimulates cultural identity and emotional resonance, providing bamboo products with new vitality and cultural value. Design based on emotional needs and cultural connotations aligns bamboo innovation with current aesthetics relying on consumer psychology, boosting product value and helping maintain cultural characteristics under globalization.
3.2 Innovative Bamboo Weaving Design Practice: A Series of Furniture Designs
Building on the above strategies, our team carried out a series of furniture design practices.
Practice of Improving Production Efficiency
In terms of production technology, the team applied modernized tools, clarifying dimensional requirements at each stage and employing improved equipment for producing bamboo strips (Figure 8). This approach more than doubled material output compared to traditional methods.
Fig. 8
For the seating itself, since bamboo’s compressive strength is relatively poor, stainless steel supports were used at the base to enhance stability. Combining bamboo as the contact surface with metal as the support highlights complementary material characteristics and increases stylistic diversity.
Practice of Transforming Product Requirements
The study focuses on the theme of “gathering around,” a traditional Chinese scene where people sit around a central object (e.g., a table or a fire) during family gatherings, aiming to evoke emotional resonance and cultural identity in modern social contexts.
Taking bamboo furnishings (benches, stools, chairs), containers (Eight Immortals table, dustpans, steamers), and leisure objects (bamboo lady) as the design blueprints (Figure 9), the team deconstructed and reconstructed their forms, structures, and weaving patterns to create a series that meets modern aesthetics while offering seating, leaning, and storage functions (Figure 10). To address modern needs, electric kettles, music playback, and phone charging were incorporated. Ultimately, four pieces – a tea table, a multi-person bench, a single-person stool, and a chair – were completed to satisfy diverse modern lifestyles (Figure 11).
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
This set realizes the strategy of transitioning traditional object functions to modern spiritual needs by retaining practical features suitable for contemporary use, transforming traditional forms, and expanding modern functionalities to blend function and emotion.
4. The ecological concept of “Harmony Between Man and Nature” inspires the innovative design of bamboo weaving
This design is not only an innovative attempt at traditional bamboo weaving craftsmanship, but also a positive practice of ecological and cultural sustainability under the concept of “Harmony Between Man and Nature.” This core idea in Chinese philosophy describes the relationship between nature and humans as an organic whole, emphasizing harmony among humanity, nature, and society. The following three aspects illustrate how this ecological concept informs innovative bamboo weaving design:
4.1 “Harmony between Man and Nature” – Cherishing Natural Resources
As an embodiment of natural resources, bamboo requires a thorough understanding of its natural attributes, creative properties, and cultural significance. This creation integrates bamboo’s lightness and resilience into the design, reflecting a fusion of tradition and modernity, as well as simplicity and nature. This approach not only utilizes bamboo’s physical properties but also conveys a profound interpretation of bamboo culture. Thus, the work both cherishes natural resources and instills reverence for nature.
4.2 “Harmony between Man and Nature” – Protecting the Ecological Environment
Bamboo is a fast-growing natural material. In this design, bamboo is carefully selected and felled, then scraped, split, and divided into strips before being woven into modern daily products. After use, they naturally age and return to the soil, nourishing new bamboo growth. This cycle underscores bamboo weaving’s critical role in sustainable ecology and environmental protection, reducing environmental pressure while promoting ecological regeneration.
4.3 “Harmony between Man and Society” – Inheriting Social Culture
The ancient bamboo weaving craft carries profound social and cultural connotations. By applying modern design concepts, this research revitalizes traditional bamboo weaving in contemporary contexts, imbuing it with new significance. This not only safeguards intangible cultural heritage but also enhances bamboo weaving’s practical value in modern life. In the process of inheritance and innovation, bamboo weaving continues its historical legacy while imbuing modern life with nature and tradition, fulfilling its vital role in cultural transmission.
5. Conclusion
The ecological view of “Harmony Between Man and Nature” in traditional Chinese philosophy offers deep inspiration for bamboo weaving innovation, emphasizing harmony among humanity, nature, and society. It provides a theoretical foundation for modernizing bamboo weaving craftsmanship and guides its sustainable development. By cherishing nature, protecting the environment, and preserving culture, bamboo weaving maintains its traditional charm and contributes to global sustainability.
Looking ahead, deeper integration of traditional craftsmanship with modern technology and design is essential. Digital manufacturing, new materials, and intelligent design provide fresh methods for bamboo weaving innovation – improving efficiency, reducing costs, expanding applications, and ensuring product quality and uniqueness. In design, aligning with modern aesthetics and lifestyles to create products rich in ecological and cultural value meets contemporary demands and conveys positive ecological messages, advancing social sustainability.
Despite the challenges posed by globalization and modernization, traditional handicrafts also face new opportunities. Interdisciplinary research enables the fusion of bamboo weaving with modern technology and design, preserving and inheriting this ancient craft while enhancing its relevance in contemporary society. This not only underscores the responsibility of cultural heritage but also contributes to humanity’s sustainable future. Guided by the ecological concept of “Harmony Between Man and Nature,” promoting innovation and sustainability in traditional craftsmanship supports the development of a harmonious, green, and inclusive society.
