(All images: FTV)
The process of extracting camphor is very complicated. Wu said that first, the extractors must classify the species of camphor trees according to their smell. Then, these classified camphor trees must be sent to the factory to be planed into wood chips. The wood chips are then poured into a steam boiler and passed through an oil-water separator to obtain pure camphor oil. About 1,000 kilograms of wood chips can extract 10 kilograms of camphor oil.
During the most prosperous period of the camphor industry, refineries produced camphor oil almost 24 hours a day. At that time, there were more than 10 camphor refineries in Miaoli. However, in the 1970s, when the petrochemical industry emerged, natural camphor, which was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly to extract, was gradually replaced with artificially-made camphor. There were also fewer export orders. In addition, chemical camphor from China and Southeast Asian countries was dumped in Taiwan’s market, which made Taiwan’s camphor oil seriously unsalable. The local camphor refineries went bankrupt one by one.
Wu couldn't bear to see the camphor factory built by his grandfather go into history, so he took over the family business in 1993. While trying to think of other ways to solve the dilemma of dwindling sales, he found that research done by agricultural experiments showed that camphor oil can be used as a non-toxic pesticide. After camphor oil is diluted, it can be sprayed on crops to prevent damage. Therefore, he began promoting camphor oil to fruit farmers in Dongshi and Shigang areas of Taiwan’s Taichung City. Later, Wu developed other products, such as camphor soap, which were very popular with customers, and his business gradually got on track.
When everything seemed to be going well, Wu encountered a fire at his home and suffered heavy losses. He quickly cheered up and resumed his original life. He said that as long as people are safe, there is still a chance to rebuild. Originally, he thought this was the biggest hurdle in his life, but the 921 Earthquake that struck Taiwan in 1999 not only destroyed his factory, but also took the lives of his two dearest children. Although Wu and his wife were in pain, their suffering did not knock them down. They fully demonstrated the hardiness of the Hakka people, worked hard to rebuild their home and factory, and devoted themselves to work, rising up again.
After Wu used camphor oil in more products, he also used Taiwan's native plants to develop more natural products extracted from plants, making a high-quality brand sold at home and abroad. Wu also transformed the factory into a tourist park and kept the camphor refining tools used by his grandfather during the Japanese colonial era, so that visitors can better understand the story of the camphor refining industry in Hakka villages.
