In our ever-progressing world, our lives revolve around machines which provide finely produced, everyday items at reasonable costs; goods are supplied quickly and in great quantity.
Umbrella making, an industry which is highly mechanized, is big business in Taiwan; the familiar metal-framed contraptions are mass produced for a world market. In light of this, it's a comforting thought, some how, that the traditional art of making Chinese-umbrellas is still alive and well in Meinung, an old Hakka town in southern Taiwan.
The original Chinese ideograph for umbrella was a word meaning 'cover' (gai). Legend has it that the gai was invented during the Spring and Autumn Period (722-484 BC), but there does not seem to be any written proof of its existence until much later: "Confucius went walking in the rain without a gai." Artisans today guess that the ribs of the earliest gai were constructed of bamboo, covered with silk. Hence, an early ideograph for gai was com-posed of a 'silk' radical and 'bamboo' elements; it later evolved into what appears to look like an opened umbrella.
Despite its imagined beauty and elegance, the silk umbrella was not very practical in tropical, rain drenched southern China. The problem was solved by using oilpaper, an excellent water repellent. These umbrellas were not really designed for use in the North, where the climate is much dryer than in the South. So the umbrellas made in Meinung follow a Southern tradition.
Meinung is an old town whose inhabitants were, until recently, untainted by the sophistication and urban vanity of the outside world. The venerable tradition handed down by their ancestors made Meinung a unique, quaint village. The village is endowed with natural beauty; in olden times, the gate to the city and luxurious green trees attracted many a visitor and art lover. Nonetheless, nature ultimately lost the competition to the art of umbrella making. Ironically, the traditional umbrella art would, in turn, too, be forced to yield to the modern umbrella, which is mass-produced and easily exported. The process of making a traditional Chinese umbrella by hand is slow and relatively expensive. There is an added disadvantage of not being able to be conveniently folded up. As a result of the decrease in demand, many old businesses closed, and the Chinese-umbrella all but disappeared from sight.
In Meinung, there are still a few Chinese-umbrella makers who keep at their craft despite the cruel realities of decreased market demand. They love and are dedicated to their work and for a long while were apparently unconcerned about the number of umbrellas which might be sold. Each umbrella is constructed with great care and skill, as if they themselves were going to use it. Because of their ardor and dedication, and also due to many people's boredom with impersonal, assembly-line products, their once scorned Chinese umbrellas are now making a comeback.
One so-called factory is located in a village resident's home on the bank of a lake. Upon entrance to the house, one is immediately confronted by a grove of half-finished umbrellas. Amidst the forest sit three artisans stripping bamboo, boring holes, rubbing on wood-oil, etc. The entire house is permeated with the odor. One of the workers tells us that, in olden days, the work was divided among four people, hence the modern Chinese ideograph shows four stick-figure representations of men sitting under an inverted-V shelter.
In making one of these traditional umbrellas, the first step is to saw bamboo for the buttress. A special kind of bamboo is used which is both hard and flexible. It must first be soaked in water for a month to rid it of the sap, which attracts bugs. After soaking, the ribs, head, and handle must be formed. Then, a special borer is used to pierce holes on critical spots along the ribs, an instrument which literally takes years to master.
The next part is also very tedious. The ribs must be tied with cotton thread. Afterwards, persimmon juice, because of its excellent qualities as an adhesive, is used to mount mien paper onto the frame.
What amazes most people is that the mien paper is put on in pieces, one strip at a time. The mien paper pieces are first immersed in a tub of persimmon juice. The paper is then soaked for one-half hour, is taken out, and then placed on a board where the excess juice is pressed out. After the paper is pasted onto the ribs, the umbrella is taken outside to dry in the sun, and then brought back inside for a coat of wood-oil. And voila—a finished umbrella!
It's an exacting job which takes an expert at least half a day just to produce one umbrella. No wonder mass production is the thing of the day. But fortunately for those who appreciate the traditions and art of yore, there is, and there continues to be Meinung.
[Picture Caption]
1.3. Despite the fact that modern umbrellas are mass-produced on Taiwan at low cost, artisans still make by hand colorful, traditional bamboo framed umbrellas. 2. Oilpaper coverings air in the sun.
1. Painting the oilpaper with different figures, such as dragons, increases the value of the umbrella. 2. Traditional umbrellas are made completely by hand. Here, bamboo is being stripped. 3. Boring holes. 4. Gluing on the oilpaper to form a covering. 5. Stitching the umbrella.
1.3. After the inside ribs are completed by the artisan, the umbrella can be to be opened and closed. 2. Wood-oil, a water repellant, is applied to the covering. 4. Traditional Chinese dress is matched with an elegant Meinung umbrella.
Oilpaper coverings air in the sun.
Despite the fact that modern umbrellas are mass-produced on Taiwan at low cost, artisans still make by hand colorful, traditional bamboo framed umbrellas.
Painting the oilpaper with different figures, such as dragons, increases the value of the umbrella.
Traditional umbrellas are made completely by hand. Here, bamboo is being stripped.
5. Stitching the umbrella.
Gluing on the oilpaper to form a covering.
After the inside ribs are completed by the artisan, the umbrella can be to be opened and closed.
Wood-oil, a water repellant, is applied to the covering.
After the inside ribs are completed by the artisan, the umbrella can be to be opened and closed.
Traditional Chinese dress is matched with an elegant Meinung umbrella.
