What is the moral or symbolic significance of plum and bamboo together?

In the traditional painting form of China, plum and bamboo are painted together, which is called "plum and bamboo are all clear". Regardless of poetry and painting, Mei Zhu divides poetry and painting. As a kind of literature, object-chanting poems appeared very early. There are many poems in The Book of Songs that describe people with flowers, and Qu Yuan likes to sing incense to compare the virtue of a gentleman.

Plums are characterized by snow blooming proudly in the cold season, while bamboo is characterized by evergreen seasons, indomitable spirit and orderliness. There was a knot before it was unearthed, and the depths of Lingyun were still modest. Zhu Mei's combination is a metaphor of a person's excellent qualities. Because of the pressure of power, he didn't stick to his beliefs. His official position and strength, adhering to principles humbly, symbolize noble personality.

Only in the Yuan Dynasty did the extended materials have a poem and a song with Zhu Mei as the theme, such as Tai Puhua's "Titing Bamboo and Red Plum" and "Titing Zhu Mei Shuangqing Map", which are the earliest written records calling Zhu Mei Shuangqing. Judging from the title, this is a painting, which shows that "Zhu Mei Shuangqing" was painted by an artist in the Yuan Dynasty.

Judging from the traces left, it actually started from the Song Dynasty, but it was not called "plum blossom bamboo". For example, Marin has a picture of plum blossom with plum blossom and bamboo, and the Song and Yuan Dynasties (anonymous) Mei Zhu Juan, which is the earliest work that can be seen at present.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Meizhu Shuangqing