| A large proportion of the Earth's natural rainforest is | | | | the Goryeo era of Korea. Records have indicated that |
| gone because of urbanization, land development and | | | | the shipwreck happened while delivering grains, fish |
| deforestation. We need trees to provide for our basic | | | | sauce and porcelain ware to general who lived in |
| needs - paper, tissue, furniture, fabric, medicine, etc but | | | | Gaegyong, North Korea. |
| the cost of that is the death of our natural resources. | | | | Unlike trees, bamboos are a different sort. Yes, they |
| Many companies and organizations have launched | | | | may look like trees, because they are tall, flexible, and |
| "save the rainforest" projects by distributing tree | | | | sturdy. However, bamboos are members of the grass |
| seedlings and then planting them, in the hopes that it | | | | species, and like a weed, it is easy for them to just |
| shall grow tall to replace the lost ones. However, trees | | | | sprout and grow, untended and uncared for. Bamboos |
| take too long to mature. Some trees would take | | | | grow steadily fast, and mature quickly and easily |
| years, if not, decades, to become a completely mature | | | | renewable - characteristics which tree plants do not |
| plant. | | | | normally have. Thus, bamboos can be a perfect |
| The durability of the bamboo over time is | | | | substitute for wood. A bamboo plant is not only an |
| demonstrated by the recent discovery of an 800-year | | | | environment-friendly alternative for wood, but it also |
| old bamboo in a shipwreck. The Natural Research | | | | brings with it many industrial purposes, both in design |
| Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage had set up an | | | | and engineering. |
| expedition team to search for relics in a shipwreck | | | | Recently, many companies have been using bamboo |
| near the Taen's Mado island off the coast of South | | | | as furniture. Bamboo furniture is a unique design for the |
| Chungcheong Province. The team retrieved about | | | | office, house or business establishment. Its flexible and |
| 1,400 relics, including mokgan or wooden bamboo labels | | | | pliant nature makes it easy to sculpt and mold the |
| containing information about the items on board the | | | | bamboo into table, couch, or window blinds. Having |
| ship. Recorded invoices were found, containing | | | | bamboo furniture gives a natural, earthy feel to one's |
| information about cargo's shipping and departure times, | | | | room space. It also sits well with an Oriental or |
| its various destinations and recipients, and the type and | | | | Asian-inspired theme to the interior decorations, such |
| number of shipments onboard. This marked the | | | | as bamboo blinds, slits, natural candles or natural wax |
| significant discovery of the use of bamboo tabs during | | | | candles, bamboo water fountains and bamboo frames. |