Huangtu Mountain - Craft House Introduction
Master Huang Tusan, a national treasure of bamboo weaving, began learning bamboo weaving at the age of 14. In his early twenties, he established a bamboo processing factory, producing bamboo bags and baskets for both domestic and international markets. Over the past 50 years, he has trained over 1,000 students, nurturing countless talents in Taiwan's bamboo weaving industry, making him a living history of Taiwanese bamboo weaving. Famous for his dedication and simplicity, Huang’s residence and workshop in Zhushan Township are filled with bamboo works and awards. At 80 years old, he retired over a decade ago from the Provincial Institute of Handicraft Research, earning the title of a national treasure craftsman. Recalling the history of his connection with bamboo art, Huang, who grew up in Zhushan, remembers that during the Japanese occupation, more than 13,000 hectares of bamboo forest were planted. The bamboo, known for its strong elasticity and quality, was widely utilized for making daily items. After graduating from elementary school in the 13th year of the Showa era (1938), he trained at the Bamboo Craft Learning Institute for three years, laying the foundation for his bamboo art skills, followed by another year and a half learning coarser bamboo weaving techniques. Shortly after his military service, World War II ended. At that time, due to the need for large quantities of bamboo luggage boxes for returning Japanese troops, he began to engage in the trade of bamboo products. In 1953, after two months of training in Nantou, he was assigned to teach at the Chiayi Craft Special Training Class, starting his efforts to pass on bamboo arts. After a year, the Nantou County Government established a craft research class in Caotun, and Huang returned home to serve. As this was the peak period for handicrafts, he devoted himself to teaching bamboo arts, cultivating many outstanding students over three years, including 50 indigenous students from Taitung and Hualien, promoting mutual learning and the development of new bamboo products like flower vessels and lighting fixtures. Since 1953, Huang has developed new products at various training centers in Chiayi, Nantou, Taichung, and Guanmiao, as well as at the Provincial Institute of Handicraft Research and the Central Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center, while also collaborating with schools to impart bamboo processing techniques. He has even traveled overseas with farming teams to assist in local bamboo industry techniques. Huang's bamboo weaving works encompass a variety of traditional utensils, flower vessels, fruit trays, and lacquered bamboo items. Even in retirement, Huang has continued to create and pass on his knowledge, participating in numerous exhibitions and serving as an instructor for bamboo weaving courses at Zhushan Senior High School and the Handicraft Research Institute, sharing his expertise with many students. Having dedicated decades to passing on bamboo arts, Huang has received the National Arts Transmission Award and accolades as a significant folk art master. He believes in staying active, explaining that "the bamboo weaving technique requires mental creativity and hands-on crafting, and continuing to create bamboo works is very beneficial for one's health. Since my life is intertwined with bamboo arts, I hope this traditional technique can be preserved forever." Huang considers Taiwan to be rich in bamboo culture, with countless bamboo items used in everyday life, from baby strollers and bamboo baskets to bamboo chopsticks, rafts, and bridges, reflecting a deep-seated affection for bamboo in society, which inspires continuous creative ideas. His greatest wish is for more people to appreciate bamboo art, ensuring the enduring legacy of this intricate craft, and he plans to buy land to build a museum to showcase the beauty of bamboo art from masters.
