Summer banana leaf prints show up everywhere, summer attire, cocktail napkins, backyard parties, hotel wallpaper. Did you know that they have served as a percussion instrument? In Chinese culture banana leaves are famously celebrated by poets to provide meter for composing poetry during cool summer rains. The tip tap of raindrops on banana leaves makes it nature’s metronome. Its musical quality, more than its visual impact nor shade providing function, lead the fashion for the cultivated Chinese to plant banana trees in gardens. Think about what music you can hear next time you see banana leaf prints.
About Author
yvonne.liu.wolf
Yvonne Wolf was born in Taiwan and educated in the U.S. and Europe. She has extensive experience living and working internationally (Denmark and Japan). She is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Danish, and has studied Japanese, Spanish, and Greek. Between work and personal travel, she has visited more than 20 countries and well-traveled within the U.S. and Canada. She has worked with organizations and business executives focusing on communication strategies working with Chinese and East Asian partners. Among her many skills is mediating across cultural misunderstandings.