The theme is divided into four parts: the variation of the motif in a multitude of possibilities, from the forest to a focus on the leaves, the knots of its branches, and the harvesting of the shoots. Bamboo was also used to make fishing traps, which influenced the creation of basketry related to floral art and tea ceremonies.
An inexpensive, strong, and flexible material, bamboo is widely used in architecture and gardens. Prints, paintings, and objects illustrate the ubiquity of bamboo as a plant or used to make windows, blinds, fences, and barriers. With its structure built around emptiness, bamboo is associated with Zen Buddhism and tea practices. Associated with pine and plum blossoms, bamboo in both China and Japan represents certain qualities of the educated and literate man.
Associated with snow or wisteria and birds, it symbolizes the seasons of winter and spring. All its qualities and symbolism also make this grass a favorite form transposed into porcelain, metal, ivory and cloisonné enamel. The richness of the Japanese and Chinese collections at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs allows the public to discover the great variety of objects on display, most of them for the first time: stencils (katagami), basketry, prints, paintings, original drawings, wallpapers, ceramics, lacquers, bronzes, ivories and textiles.