Bulrush Cultural Center Introduction
In its early days, Yuanli was renowned as the "Hometown of Reed." Upon entering Yuanli, one could see many fields planted with reed, as its soft and resilient stems are effective in removing humidity and odor, making it ideal for weaving. As early as the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, local women began using reeds to weave grass mats. With development and improvement, by the Japanese colonial era, aesthetically pleasing reed hats were created. Due to their lightweight nature and natural grass fragrance, these hats became a specialty marketed globally. In the 25th year of the Republic, the export of straw hats reached its peak, with annual sales exceeding ten million hats. At that time, if a family had a woman who could weave reeds, it was sufficient to support the entire household, so the traditional concept of male dominance over females did not apply in Yuanli Township. There was even a popular saying that esteemed the birth of girls over boys, reflecting its vibrant historical context. With the passage of time, traditional hand-weaving gradually gave way to mechanization, and rising wages led women to prefer factory work over home weaving, resulting in a decline in reed fields and the industry's eventual decline. To preserve this memory, the Yuanli Township Farmers' Association established the "Reed Cultural Museum," aiming to showcase the local characteristics of Yuanli and ensure the sustainable transmission of this traditional cultural craft. Covering an area of approximately 330 square meters, the museum is located next to the Yuanli Township Farmers' Association Mountain Foot Office. It has been reconstructed and repurposed from an idle farm warehouse, featuring a red brick exterior. The interior is divided into various themed areas, including a hat and mat cultural area, a sales area, a rural historical artifact display area, a rice culture area, and a folk culture area, narrating the entire history of reed weaving to the public. In addition, there is a special area for hat and mat weaving demonstrations and a DIY classroom, allowing visitors to engage directly with the craft while touring. The museum's exterior is planted with many reeds and Taiwan Red Pine, along with a painted rice field nearby, creating a beautiful landscape. As the scenery changes with the seasons, it offers the best way for people to understand the significance of reeds.
