Taiwan's Rush Grass weaving legacy
Taiwan's Rush Grass weaving legacy
Originating over 300 years ago in Taiwan, the art of rush grass weaving flourished in the 1930s, making it the 3rd most exported item after rice and sugar, with the Japanese as the primary buyers.
The first lady of a former Taiwanese president, a big fan and supporter of rush grass, mandated that highschool student uniforms include Rush Grass hats.
Today, on Taiwan's west coast, in YuanLi, rush grass is meticulously grown and skillfully woven. This cultural heritage is traditionally passed down from mothers to daughters. Currently, most of the highly skilled weavers are grandmothers over sixty, many of whom started weaving even before attending primary school.