aeeble

In the early days, Yuanli enjoyed the reputation of being the "Kingdom of Straw Grass". Upon entering Yuanli, one could see fields of straw grass planted. The grass had strong and soft stems and was capable of moisture and odor resistance. It was ideal for weaving. As early as the early Qing dynasty, local women used straw grass to weave straw mats. Through development, by the time of Japanese rule, they had devised the aesthetically-pleasing straw hat. Due to its light and natural straw-like scent, it became a specialty product sold worldwide. In 1936, straw hat exports peaked. The annual sales reached over a million. At that time, as long as there was one woman in a family who knew how to weave straw grass, she was able to support the entire family. Therefore, the traditional male-chauvinistic society did not apply to Yuanli. There was a popular ballad that went: “No importance is placed on having a son; having a daughter is just as good”. As times changed, traditional hand-weaving was gradually replaced by machines. As wages increased, women no longer wanted to weave straw grass at home; instead, they chose to work in factories. Straw grass fields dwindled. The entire industry entered history. In order to preserve memories, the Yuanli Farmers’ Association particularly established the “Straw Grass Museum”. It was hoped to demonstrate the local characteristics of Yuanli and allow the traditional cultural skills to continue. The Straw Grass Museum covers an area of about 330 square meters. It is located beside the Yuanli Farmers’ Association Mountain Branch Office. It was built on and re-planned from an idle farmers’ association warehouse. The exterior is made of red bricks. The interior space was divided into themed sections: the Hat and Mat Culture Section, the Sales Section, the Rural Antique Display Section, the Rice Culture Section, and the Folk Culture Section. These sections told the public the history of straw grass weaving. In addition, there was a hat and mat weaving demonstration section and a DIY classroom. Visitors could get closer to the industry by watching and working with their own hands. Outside the museum, many straw grasses and Chiashan Red Pines were planted. Together with the nearby paddy field paintings, they formed beautiful scenery that changed with the seasons. It allowed the public to understand straw grass at first hand.