Reed Cultural Center Introduction
In the early days, Yuanli was praised as the "Hometown of Reed Grass." Upon entering Yuanli, one could see many fields planted with reed grass. The stems of reed grass are soft yet strong, and they can remove moisture and odor, making them ideal for weaving. As early as the early Qing Dynasty, local women had already begun to weave mats from reed grass. Through development and improvement, during the Japanese occupation period, aesthetically pleasing reed hats were developed. Due to their lightweight nature and natural grass fragrance, they became a specialty marketed globally. In 1936, the export of straw hats reached its peak, with annual sales exceeding ten million pieces. At that time, having one woman in the household who could weave reed grass was enough to support the family. Therefore, the traditional notion of male superiority and female inferiority did not apply in Yuanli Township. There was even a folk song claiming, "It is not important to give birth to boys, but rather to give birth to girls," reflecting the vibrant scene of that time. With the evolution of the times, traditional hand weaving has gradually been replaced by machines. The rise in wages has also led women to prefer working in factories rather than weaving reed grass at home, resulting in a decline in reed grass fields and the entire industry becoming part of history. To preserve this memory, the Yuanli Township Farmers' Association has established the "Reed Grass Cultural Museum," hoping to showcase the local characteristics of Yuanli and ensure the sustainable transmission 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 Township Farmers' Association's office. It was built by renovating and re-planning an idle farmers' association warehouse, featuring a red brick exterior. Inside, the space is organized into different themed areas, including a hat and mat culture area, a sales area, an agricultural relics display area, a rice culture area, and a folk culture area, telling the history of reed grass weaving to the public. Additionally, there is a special area for hat and mat weaving demonstrations and a DIY classroom, allowing visitors to engage hands-on and get closer to this industry. The museum grounds are planted with numerous reed grasses and Cryptomeria japonica, combined with the nearby paddy fields, creating a beautiful landscape. As the scenery changes with the seasons, it provides the best way for the public to understand reed grass.
