Pingxi Indigo Dyeing Workshop Introduction
In the early days, the settlers arrived in Pingxi without knowing that beneath their feet lay rich black gold. Their daily life relied on cultivating rice and sweet potatoes as food, while their source of income came from planting indigo plants, which were processed into indigo dye and sold to the mainland. The indigo, known as "大菁" (da qing) in Chinese, is the perennial plant of the family Rubiaceae, commonly referred to as "山藍" (shan lan) because it is often grown in mountainous areas. It is also called "大青" (da qing) due to its primary use as a dye for blue fabric. It blossoms from November to February of the following year, bearing purple flowers and thriving in warm, humid conditions, which are ideal for the growth of indigo plants in Pingxi. According to the 19th year of the Showa era's guide to Taiwanese farming, the indigo produced in Pingxi Township, Taipei Prefecture, had a purity level of around 75 to 80%, referred to as "藍靛" (lan dian), which differs from indigo produced in other regions. Based on local historical and cultural research, the indigo industry in Pingxi primarily focuses on producing indigo dye, with only a few individuals dyeing fabric themselves. Therefore, there is no sizable dyeing factory, but there is large-scale production of indigo for export. To preserve the craftsmanship of their ancestors, the "Pingxi Indigo Dye Workshop" was established.
