A zhú jiǎn (bamboo slip) is a narrow, flat strip of bamboo that was used as a writing surface in ancient China, especially before paper became widespread around the 2nd century CE. Each slip typically held one column of text written vertically with ink and brush; multiple slips were bound together with string to form a scroll-like manuscript. The character zhú means 'bamboo'—highlighting the material—and jiǎn originally referred to a thin, flat piece of wood or bamboo used for inscribing characters.

Bamboo slips were durable, readily available, and easy to prepare, making them the dominant medium for official documents, philosophical texts, and literary works during the Warring States, Qin, and Han dynasties. Archaeological discoveries—including thousands of well-preserved slips from tombs—have provided invaluable insights into early Chinese history, law, medicine, and thought. Today, zhú jiǎn appears mainly in historical, academic, or cultural contexts, often symbolizing antiquity, scholarly tradition, or the origins of Chinese writing.