Rush
weaving (藺草編織) is a craft that had been passed down from one generation to another in
Yuanli Township, Miaoli County for nearly 300 years. Rush, which is locally
grown, is a good material for weaving because of its soft but tough,
hard-to-break, and strong water-absorbing characteristics, as well as its
ability to dehumidify and deodorize. When you learn about the history and
culture of rush weaving, not only will you see the heritage of the craftsmanship,
but also its significance to the culture of local communities and the people.
The industry’s development also tells the story of the interweaving and
integration among the different ethnic groups in Taiwan.
(Photo: 台灣藺草學會)
Because
of the abundance of rush in this area, in the early period, Yuanli was known as
the "Land of Rush". As soon as you walk into Yuanli, you can see many
rushes planted in the farmland. As early as the Qing Dynasty, local women used
rushes to weave straw mats. With the development and improvement of techniques,
beautiful rush straw hats were made by the time of the Japanese colonial era
(1895-1945). Due to their light texture and natural grass fragrance, hats made
from weaved rush became a well-known specialty product sold all around the world.
In
1936, the export of rush straw hats reached its peak, with the annual sales
reaching more than 10 million hats. At that time, as long as there was a woman
in the family who could weave rush, her income would be enough to maintain a
family's livelihood. With changing times, however, traditional hand weaving was
gradually replaced by machines. Many women were no longer willing to weave rush
at home, choosing instead to work in factories because they could earn higher
wages there. Products made of rush were also gradually replaced by those made
from other materials. As a result, fewer farmers would grow rush, and there
were fewer and fewer rush fields. The entire industry thus disappeared into
history.
(Photo: 台灣藺草學會)
In
order to preserve this memory, the Farmers' Association of Yuanli Township set
up a special "Triangle Rush Exhibition Hall (藺草文化館)"
in recent years, hoping to show the local characteristics of Yuanli and pass on
the traditional cultural skill of rush weaving to the younger generation. The
Triangle Rush Exhibition Hall was built from an early Farmers’ Association
warehouse. Serving as a cultural museum, it focuses on the theme of rush
ecology and weaving craft and offers chances to experience rush weaving, see
the hats and mats that are intricately made by craftswomen, check out the rural
ancient cultural relics, and try their hand at making rush products in DIY
classrooms. The museum is open to the general public. People are encouraged to
visit it and experience the art of rush weaving that had been an integral part
of the history of Yuanli.
Compared
with rice farmers who use machines to farm, the rush industry in Yuanli has
maintained the way of manual planting and harvesting since ancient times; even
the weaving is still done by hand. Because of this adherence to making rush
products by hand, the quality is refined and excellent. The revival of rush
weaving has also given the now aged craftspeople a source of income and a new
focus in life.
Taiwan
has many centuries-old crafts that have been forgotten by modern-day people.
Only a few people persist and continue to find opportunities to preserve and
transform these age-old crafts and try to give them a new lease of life. In
recent years, they have retained and revitalized the craft and culture of rush
weaving, which was barely valued by Taiwan’s mainstream
society.
