A simple room--a hanging lamp, an elegant tea table, a porcelain vase with blossom cutting--a scene that recalls an earlier, less hurried time, far removed from the pace of modern urban life. The most striking feature of the room is the floor, which is covered in straw mats or "tatami."

These slightly fragrant mat-pads are both extremely practical in use and traditional in nature. Not only do tatamis embellish the room with a classical elegance, they also have a utilitarian value as well. They make decorating and furniture selection less of a chore and are great for families with children. If the household has overnight guests, a simple rearrangement of the furniture creates an instant, comfortable sleeping area.

Often associated with the Japanese, where the tatami is a standard household feature, tatamis most likely have their origins in the T'ang dynasty (618-907 AD), when there was a great deal of contact between Japan and China. The elegant simplicity of Japanese room design, with its bamboo latticed window screens, floor pillows, low tea table etc., were borrowed from the Chinese. Tatamis, therefore, were likely to be a type of Chinese matting known as hsi, which was then adopted and adapted to meet the tastes of the Japanese. While the Japanese preserved these traditional designs, Chinese styles changed.

The Japanese introduced the tatami to Taiwan during the years of their occupation of the island. Japanese-style houses were built and tatamis used. These houses were predominantly inhabited by Japanese, while the Chinese maintained their own familiar designs. The Japanese withdrawal from the island in 1945 left a legacy of Japanese influence on the island. Japanese-style houses and tatamis became popular for a short period but then fell out of widespread use with the introduction of western-style homes and apartments.

Lately, due to higher income levels and a greater concern for the home environment, tatamis are becoming more popular. A simply decorated room with tatamis is both a bit of classical history and a little of a "return to nature." When decorating a tatami room it is advisable to maintain a balance throughout the house, ie. keep the design traditional, or if the house is decorated in a modern motif, have the tatami room designed in brighter colors.

The standard tatami measures 3 feet × 6 feet (length). Made from two types of grasses--rice straw on the bottom and candle rush on the top surface layer, tatamis are machine woven and laced together with cotton thread. A decorative nylon border completes the final design. Tatamis are assembled and sold through specialty shops known as "Tieh Hsi Hang" in Chinese. These shops will have employees measure the dimensions of the room and make adjustments to the standard tatami length. When picking out a tatami make sure of the following: the lower layer of rice straw should be dry and tightly packed to ensure a strong bottom. The candle rush should be woven in complete lengths, as opposed to some which sew shorter pieces together and then pack them. Finally, the nylon border should have a close, tight stitch with the matting. Prices vary according to materials and workmanship, with inexpensive models averaging around US$12 and the better quality mats running as high as US$23. While decorating an entire room in tatamis may be equivalent in cost to buying a carpet, the subsequent lower furnishing costs and utilitarian value of tatamis, make it more cost-saving.

Upkeep of tatamis is sometimes troublesome, but crucial. Frequent rubbing in the direction of the weave with a well rung cloth, and occasional exposure to the sun are important methods of preserving the tatami. When drying the tatami in the sun, be careful not to expose the top layer of candle rush as it can dry out and become brittle.

Moisture is the tatami's greatest danger. If the tatami gets wet and molds, disinfectant powder can be applied with a dry cloth. Properly cared for, tatamis can be used for up to six or seven years.

The recent upswing in tatami business is predicted to continue for the near future. Shops which market tatamis list homes, Japanese restaurants and tea houses as their biggest customers. The only cloud on the horizon is that there are few young people involved in the making and marketing of this product.

A useful addition to home decoration, the tatami is not only a practical piece of furniture, it is a subtle reminder of the simple elegance of traditional Oriental life.

[Picture Caption]

1. A bamboo blind, a traditional Chinese painting and a potted plant--set in a tatami room create a mood of quiet elegance. 2. Renowned folk singer, P'an Yueh-yun effectively uses tatamis to make the most of her living area.

1.3. Traditional teahouses laid with tatamis are extremely comfortable. 3.5. Homes with tatamis have a fresh, spacious feeling and are easy to maintain. 4. A hotel with traditional Japanese-style tatami rooms place the mattress on the tatami.

1. Seated on comfortable tatemis, teahouse patrons enjoy delicate tea and friendly conversation. 2. A tatami maker at work in his "Tieh Hsi Hang" (tatami shop). 3. Antique-style, low-legged tea tables are an ideal furniture accompaniment for tatami rooms. 4. Meticulous attention to interior decoration highlight this Japanese restaurant which uses a tatami floor layout. 5. A tatami room with center space. When seated, guests can let there legs down for maximum comfort.

2. Renowned folk singer, P'an Yueh-yun effectively uses tatamis to make the most of her living area.

1.3. Traditional teahouses laid with tatamis are extremely comfortable.

3.5. Homes with tatamis have a fresh, spacious feeling and are easy to maintain.

1.3. Traditional teahouses laid with tatamis are extremely comfortable.

4. A hotel with traditional Japanese-style tatami rooms place the mattress on the tatami.

3.5. Homes with tatamis have a fresh, spacious feeling and are easy to maintain.

1. Seated on comfortable tatemis, teahouse patrons enjoy delicate tea and friendly conversation.

2. A tatami maker at work in his "Tieh Hsi Hang" （tatami shop）.

3. Antique-style, low-legged tea tables are an ideal furniture accompaniment for tatami rooms.

4. Meticulous attention to interior decoration highlight this Japanese restaurant which uses a tatami floor layout.

5. A tatami room with center space. When seated, guests can let there legs down for maximum comfort.