In 1940, the export of Taiwan Cypress Straw Hats reached its peak, with an annual sales volume exceeding 10 million units. At that time, if a woman in a household knew how to weave hats, her income alone was sufficient to support the entire family.

However, with the changing times, traditional hand weaving was gradually replaced by machines. Many women no longer wished to weave hats at home and instead chose to work in factories where they could earn higher wages. Furthermore, as Taiwan cypress became increasingly scarce, the entire industry faded into history.

Rush grass weaving has existed in Yuanli for over 200 years. It is said that in the late Qing Dynasty, a woman named MadamHUNG,YANG from Yuanli wove Taiwan’s first rush grass hat to protect her injured child’s head from mosquito bites. This invention led to the rise of Yuanli’s rush weaving industry. However, like many other traditional crafts, the rush weaving industry declined due to technological advancements and the influx of cheap woven goods. Fortunately, local residents established the Rush Weaving Cultural Association, which is dedicated to promoting rush weaving craftsmanship. By gathering skilled artisans, they have been able to preserve and continue this valuable traditional craft.

TSAI,YEN-YU, the instructor who first introduced us to the Taiwan Cypress Straw Hat, is committed to passing down this skill through hands-on teaching. She emphasized that this craft is quite challenging—taking only a short 2-3 hour lesson would not be enough to master it. She hopes to attract genuinely interested students and ensure that the craft can be properly inherited.