Pingxi Indigo Dyeing Workshop Introduction
When the early settlers arrived in Pingxi, they were unaware that beneath their feet lay rich deposits of black gold. Their daily lives depended on the cultivation of rice and sweet potatoes for food, while their source of income came from growing indigo plants, which were processed into indigo dye and sold to the mainland. The indigo, known as "Banzai" in Mandarin, is a perennial plant of the Rubiaceae family, commonly referred to as "Mountain Indigo" because it is predominantly grown in mountainous areas. Additionally, it is known as "Daqing" as it is primarily used as a dye for blue cloth. The plant flowers from November to February of the following year, producing purple blooms and thriving in warm, humid conditions, which are ideal for its growth in Pingxi’s climate. According to the records in the "Old Taiwan Farmers’ Almanac" from the 19th year of Showa (1944), the indigo dye produced in Pingxi Township, Taipei County, had a purity level of approximately 75% to 80% and was called "indigo blue," distinguishing it from indigo from other regions. Based on surveys conducted by local cultural historians, the indigo industry in the Pingxi area primarily focuses on the production of indigo dye, with only a few practicing natural dyeing of cloth. As such, there are no significant dyeing factories; instead, large-scale production of indigo is exported. To preserve the traditional craftsmanship of their ancestors, the "Pingxi Indigo Dye Workshop" was established.
