# Pine needles

松 matsu

![Pine needles](https://www.furoshiki.com/swatches/matsu.svg)

The evergreen pine stands for longevity and steadfastness. Paired needles also suggest a devoted couple, so it suits New Year and weddings.

Ancient Shinto belief; pine-bamboo-plum from Chinese 'Three Friends of Winter'

The evergreen pine was a seat (yorishiro) for gods, which is why kadomatsu 'gate pines' welcome the year god at New Year. From China came the grouping of pine, bamboo and plum (shōchikubai), the 'three friends of winter', in which pine ranks first. Pine heads the year in hanafuda (January, with crane and sun) and appears on noh stage backdrops, crests and wedding textiles.

Shōchikubai is still used to rank sets (the 'matsu' course is the best).

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Source: https://www.furoshiki.com/patterns/matsu/