By Zhang Keming

his rural region with its lush green rolling hills is a 1）treasure trove of bamboo. This is Dehong， the western part of Yunnan Province in China. Bamboo grows 2）profusely in this region. Here a bamboo forest is flourishing around this village. The local people use bamboo for all sorts of purposes. Even to this day， most of lifes essential goods are made of bamboo， and all are handmade.

This is the Teng family residence on the outskirts of the village. It is， of course， surrounded by a bamboo forest. Mr. Teng starts to cook the days catch. The firewood used by the household is also bamboo. Meals are eaten on the 3）veranda. The Tengs extended household includes their son， his wife and their grandchildren. A bamboo cup is used for drinking wine. Walls are made from woven bamboo. The terrace is also made from bamboo. People here live a nearly self-sufficient life through cultivation of rice， vegetables and the ingenious use of bamboo.

Mr. Teng owns a total of 6，600m2 of bamboo forest located in four different locations. This forest has been handed down from Mr. Tengs grandfather. With a little bit of human assistance， a healthy bamboo forest can be sustained. Today Mr. Teng has cut down some bamboo known as huangzhu， or， in English， yellow bamboo. It is the best variety for basket-weaving. This bamboo has great length between its knots， which makes it good for making baskets.

It has been approximately 100 days since the rice was planted. In this sub-tropical climate， rice grows very fast， and it is already time for harvest. The Teng family puts a lot of effort into working during this very important time of year. Their daughter， Yunbo， who is married into a neighbouring family， brings the Tengs some tea. Yunbo is pregnant. Mr. Tengs new grandchild is expected in four months. Taking a break from rice harvesting， Mr. Teng makes his way to the bamboo grove. He is looking for something. This is a bamboo 4）borer. This moth 5）larva is known in China as a bamboo insect. Eggs were laid here in the early summer and they have now grown into larvae. Many of these larvae can be found at the nodes of the bamboo. The bamboo borer can only be caught during this season and is considered a bit of a delicacy in this region. It is said to be high in nutrients and especially good for women during pregnancy. The larvae are being cooked in oil. This meal was prepared for his daughter， cooked with a fathers love.

March. A new season has arrived again. Back at the Teng family residence， their daughter Yunbo pays another visit. Ah， their new grandchild has been born healthy and happy. Its a boy. He 6）slumbers peacefully in his bamboo cradle. This cradle was built with loving care by his grandfather.

With one more grandchild added to his 7）brood， Mr. Teng heads back to the bamboo grove. This bamboo was planted and raised by his grandfather. He chooses some young bamboo trees and digs their roots out of the ground. Mr. Teng has moved the bamboo to a small hill overlooking the village. This bamboo is going to be the start of a new grove for his grandson. By the time his grandson reaches elementary school a rich and dense thicket of bamboo will have grown.

The rainy season approaches again. The bamboo groves of Yunnan， China， are cultivated and tended by human hands. These lush forests serve as home and life source for both humans and animals. A new cycle of life begins at the bamboo forests.

这里是中国云南省西部的德宏地区，这片青山绵延起伏的乡村是竹子的宝库。这个地区的竹子繁茂生长，在这个村庄的周围就是一片繁茂的竹林。当地人把竹子用作各种用途。即使在今天，主要的生活必需品大都仍是用竹子做的，而且全都是手工制作。

这是藤家在村边的住处。不用说，它被一片竹林包围着。藤先生开始烹煮今天捕捉到的鱼，家里使用的柴火也是竹子。他们在阳台上吃饭。藤氏一家包括了他们的儿子、儿媳和孙儿孙女。这个竹制的杯是用来盛酒的，墙壁是用竹子编制而成，房屋的露台也是用竹子搭建的。这里的人们种植水稻和蔬菜，巧妙地让竹子满足生活所需，过着一种几近自给自足的生活。

藤先生拥有面积达六千六百平方米的竹林，分布在四个不同的区域。这片竹林从藤先生的祖父传下来，只需人们稍加照顾，这片竹林就可持续健康地生长。今天藤先生砍下了一些黄竹，这种竹子最适合编织篮子。这种竹子竹节之间的距离很长，这使得它很适合用来制作竹篮。

距水稻种下已经过去了约一百天。在这种亚热带的气候下，水稻生长得非常快，现在已经到了收割的时间。在每年的这个非常重要的时刻，藤家人都会非常努力地干农活。他们的女儿云波嫁给了附近一户人家，今天她带了一些茶回家。云波怀孕了，预计在四个月之后藤先生会添一名外孙。藤先生在繁忙的收获季节空当，走进竹林。他正在寻找着什么，原来是在竹子内到处窜的虫，这种竹虫在中国叫做竹蠹螟。它们会在初夏时产卵，现在这些卵已经长成了幼虫，这些幼虫大多都藏身在竹节里，也只有在这个季节才可捉到它们。这些幼虫在当地被视为一种美味的佳肴，据说它的营养丰富，最适合怀孕的妇女食用。藤先生把这些幼虫放在油里炒，满怀着父爱为女儿做了这顿饭。

现在是三月，新的季节已经开始。在藤家的房子里，他们的女儿云波又回来探望他们。瞧，他们新添的外孙很健康、活泼。这个男孩安睡在竹摇篮里，外公把浓浓的亲情编进了这个摇篮。

由于家中新添了一名外孙，藤先生朝他的那片竹林走去。这片竹林是他的祖父栽种培育的，他挑选了几棵竹树幼苗，把它们连根挖起，然后把这些幼竹移植到小山丘上，从这里可以俯瞰村子。这些竹子会茁壮成长，成为他外孙竹林的开端。到了藤先生的外孙上小学的时候，这片竹林应该会长得很茂盛。

雨季又来临了。在中国云南，人们用自己的双手种植和细心照顾着一片又一片的竹林，这些翠绿的竹林是人类和动物的共同家园，是生命之源。在这片竹林里，新的生命循环开始了。