Pingxi Indigo Dyeing Workshop Introduction
In the early days, the ancestors who arrived in Pingxi did not know that rich black gold was hidden beneath their feet. Their daily lives relied on planting rice and sweet potatoes for food, while their source of income came from cultivating the "Da Qing" plant (Indigofera tinctoria), which was sold to the mainland for dyeing purposes. The "Da Qing" is more commonly known as indigo, a perennial plant of the legume family, often referred to as "mountain blue" due to its prevalent cultivation in mountainous areas. This plant is mainly used as a dye for blue fabrics, which is why it is also called "Da Qing." It flowers from November to February of the following year, with purple blossoms that thrive in warm and humid conditions, making Pingxi's climate ideal for the growth of the Da Qing plant. According to the "Old Taiwan Agricultural Handbook" published in Showa 19, the indigo dye produced in Pingxi Township of Taipei Prefecture has a purity of about 75% to 80%, known as "Indigo," which is distinct from indigo produced in other regions. Local historians have investigated that in the Pingxi area, the indigo industry mainly focuses on producing indigo dye with very few individuals dyeing their own fabrics, resulting in a lack of dyeing factories. However, there is large-scale production of indigo for export. To preserve the craftsmanship of their ancestors, the "Pingxi Indigo Workshop" was established.
