Sedge Cultural Museum Introduction
In the early days, Yuanli was known as the "Hometown of Bulrush." Upon entering Yuanli, one could see many fields planted with bulrush, as its soft and strong stems are excellent for weaving due to their ability to dehumidify and deodorize. As early as the Qing Dynasty, local women had begun weaving mats from bulrush. With development and improvements, beautiful bulrush hats were created during the Japanese colonial period, praised for their lightweight texture and natural grassy scent, becoming a specialty marketed worldwide. In the 25th year of the Republic of China, the export of straw hats reached its peak, with annual sales exceeding ten million pieces. At that time, if there was one female family member skilled in bulrush weaving, it could sustain the entire household, which made the traditional gender hierarchy less applicable in Yuanli Town. There was even a popular saying about preferring the birth of daughters over sons, reflecting the unique social dynamics of that time. As times changed, traditional handweaving gradually gave way to machines. Rising wages led women to prefer factory work over weaving at home, resulting in a decline in bulrush fields and the eventual disappearance of the industry. To preserve this history, the Yuanli Farmers' Association established the "Bulrush Cultural Museum" to showcase the local characteristics of Yuanli and ensure the sustainable transmission of this traditional cultural skill. The Bulrush Cultural Museum covers an area of approximately 330 square meters, located next to the Yuanli Farmers' Association's office. It was transformed from an unused warehouse and features a red brick exterior. The interior is divided into various themed areas, including a hat and mat culture area, a sales area, an ancient rural artifacts display area, a rice culture area, and a folklore culture area, all narrating the history of bulrush weaving. Additionally, there are demonstration areas for hat and mat weaving and DIY classrooms, allowing visitors to engage hands-on with the industry. The museum grounds are planted with many bulrush and Taiwan red pine, alongside rice paddies, creating a picturesque landscape. As the scenery changes with the seasons, it provides an optimal way for the public to understand bulrush.
