In Chinese culture, the bamboo, plum blossom, orchid, and chrysanthemum (often known as "méi lán zhú jú" in Chinese) are collectively referred to as the Four Gentlemen. These four plants also represent the four seasons and, in Confucian ideology, four aspects of the "junzi" ("prince" or "noble one"). The pine ("sōng" ), the bamboo ("zhú" ), and the plum blossom ("méi" ) are also admired for their perseverance under harsh conditions, and are together known as the "Three Friends of Winter" ( "suìhán sānyǒu") in Chinese culture. The "Three Friends of Winter" is traditionally used as a system of ranking in Japan, for example in sushi sets or accommodations at a traditional "ryokan". Pine ("matsu" in Japanese) is of the first rank, bamboo ("take" ) is of second rank, and plum ("ume" ) is of the third.