Reed Culture Museum Introduction
In the early days, Yuanli was acclaimed as the "Hometown of Reed Grass." As soon as you enter Yuanli, you can see many fields planted with reed grass. The soft and resilient stems of the reed grass can absorb moisture and eliminate odors, making it ideal for weaving. As early as the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, local women had already started using reed grass to weave straw mats. With development and improvement, aesthetically pleasing reed hats were developed during the Japanese colonial period. Due to their lightweight quality and natural grass fragrance, these hats became a specialty exported worldwide. In the year 1936, the export of straw hats peaked, with annual sales exceeding ten million. At that time, if there was one woman in the household who could weave reed grass, the family could sustain itself. Therefore, the traditional notion of male superiority and female inferiority did not apply in Yuanli Town, and there were even folk songs circulating that emphasized "valuing daughters over sons," illustrating the remarkable situation. As times changed, traditional hand weaving began to be replaced by machines, and with rising wages, women became less inclined to weave reed grass at home, opting instead for factory work. Consequently, reed grass fields became increasingly scarce, and the entire industry has gradually faded into history. To preserve this memory, the Yuanli Farmers' Association has specially established the "Reed Grass Cultural Museum," hoping to showcase the local characteristics of Yuanli and ensure the sustainable inheritance of this traditional cultural craft. The Reed Grass Cultural Museum covers an area of approximately 330 square meters and is located next to the Yuanli Farmers' Association's foothills office. It was renovated and re-planned from an idle farmers' association warehouse, with an exterior made of red bricks. The interior space is designed into different themed areas, including a hat and mat culture area, a sales area, a display area for rural ancient artifacts, a rice culture area, and a folk culture area, narrating the entire history of reed grass weaving to the public. Additionally, there are special areas for hat and mat weaving demonstrations and DIY classrooms, allowing visitors to engage more closely with the industry through hands-on experiences. The exterior is planted with many reed grasses and flame mountain red pines, alongside painted rice fields, creating a beautiful landscape. As the scenery changes with the seasons, it serves as the best way for the public to understand reed grass.
