Three Friends of Winter right of a pair, first half of 19th century, Yamamoto Baiitsu, Japanese, 1783 - 1856, 61 13/16 × 141 3/4 in. (157 × 360.05 cm) (image)68 1/8 × 148 1/16 in. (173.04 × 376.08 cm), Ink with flecks of gold pigment on paper, Japan, 19th century, In East Asia, pine, bamboo, and plum are known as the 'three friends of winter.' In addition to their individual auspicious connotationschaste pine, upright bamboo, and pure plumeach of these three plants is also celebrated for remaining vigorous even during winter and adding color to an otherwise lifeless landscape. They thus represent the Confucian ideal of tenacity in spite of adversity.