same as 斑竹[bān zhú], 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[Shùn] concubines (Ehuang 娥皇[É huáng] and Nüying 女英[Nǚ yīng], known as the Concubines of the Xiang 湘妃[Xiāng Fēi]) upon learning of his death