Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat

Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat

The Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat is an intangible cultural heritage of Hunan Province.

　　Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat is a type of mat made from a special bamboo species—Shuizhu bamboo—by splitting its strips. Also known as "Tribute Mat," it is commonly called "Shuizhu Bamboo Mat" among locals. There are now over ten varieties. Thanks to its exquisite craftsmanship, the Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat is "as clear as jade, as smooth as water, and as soft as silk." It is exceptionally refined, renowned throughout history, and famous both at home and abroad.

　　Yiyang is located on the southwestern edge of Dongting Lake and along the lower reaches of the Zi River. In Hunan Province, it lies in the central-northern region, bordered by the Zi River and adjacent to Dongting Lake. Particularly, its central area, originally Yiyang County and now Heshan District, is backed by the foothills of the Xuefeng Mountain range and faces the fertile plains of Dongting Lake. With half lake and half mountain, the landscape features close integration of water and hills, rich soil and abundant moisture, yielding plentiful resources. In addition to its reputation as a "land of fish and rice," it also boasts many fine timber and premium bamboo species. Premier Zhou Enlai once referred to Yiyang as the "Land of Bamboo" and inscribed those words himself. Blessed with such natural advantages and further enhanced by human ingenuity, the wise and industrious ancestors of Yiyang selected the finest of bamboos—the Shuizhu bamboo—to split into strips and craft into mats, naming them "Shuizhu Cooling Mats." On this land, later generations have followed the methods of their forebears, passing down the craft through generations. This has allowed the Shuizhu Cooling Mat to endure through time, accompany everyday life, flourish, serve daily needs, showcase cultural elegance, and gain fame across the world. Thus, Yiyang, the "Land of Bamboo," has added another laurel to its crown as the "Home of Shuizhu Cooling Mats."

　　Why does the Shuizhu Cooling Mat enjoy such high prestige? Why is it so beloved by people around the world? To answer this, we must first look at the material used—Shuizhu bamboo. With countless types of bamboo, why did the ancestors of Yiyang choose Shuizhu bamboo specifically for mat-making? This was the result of life’s practical choices, wisdom, and repeated trials and screenings. Moso bamboo is thick, and its splits are coarse; mottled bamboo is hard and stiff, and its splits are tough; other types like hairy bamboo, oil bamboo, and solid bamboo all tend to have closely spaced, protruding nodes, thick flesh, and brittle texture. Only Shuizhu bamboo has sparse nodes, a straight body, soft nature, flat nodes, a cool texture, fine and smooth surface, soft yet tough fibers, uniform color without spots, and a subtle, lingering bamboo fragrance. Once split into strips, its superior qualities become even more apparent. The widespread admiration for the Shuizhu Cooling Mat is built upon the rock-solid foundation provided by its parent material—Shuizhu bamboo.

　　At the same time, the development and inheritance of the Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat to its current state of near perfection is the result of centuries of refinement and continuous improvement. The history of the Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat is very long. According to the *Yiyang County Annals*, as early as the Zhizheng era of Emperor Shundi of the Yuan Dynasty, villagers around Maozhu Lake in Yiyang County made a living by weaving Shuizhu Cooling Mats, a craft with over 600 years of history. Archaeological discoveries show that among the artifacts unearthed from Warring States period tombs in Changsha and the Western Han Dynasty Mawangdui tombs, there were bamboo mats featuring unique patterns, meticulous workmanship, and distinctive styles. Judging by their level of detail, they could not have been made from materials like moso bamboo or hairy bamboo—it is likely they were crafted from finely split Shuizhu bamboo. Given the sophistication of the craftsmanship, the origin may even date back well before the Chu and Han periods, to when ancestors moved from caves into houses. Further evidence includes bamboo mats found covering the coffins in the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in Suizhou, Hubei, another Chu region. Such historical legacy gives the Shuizhu Cooling Mat an extraordinarily ancient lineage.

　　Of course, the reason the Shuizhu Cooling Mat is favored by people worldwide is also closely tied to its exquisite craftsmanship. Through centuries of refinement and improvement, the Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat has developed an extremely meticulous production process, resulting in remarkably fine workmanship. First, the selection of materials is extremely strict. Even among Shuizhu bamboo, only top-grade poles with flat nodes, sparse nodes, straight and round shafts, high branching, and uniform color are chosen. After splitting, only the first layer of green strips—known as "head green"—can be used for weaving, while the rest are discarded. From cutting bamboo, preparing materials, splitting strips, drawing threads, steaming, to weaving and edging, nearly twenty procedures are involved. Weaving is entirely done by hand, with strips tightly interwoven, smooth and square. Typically, each inch of width can accommodate twelve bamboo strips, while finely crafted mats can reach up to thirty-six strips. Though the weight is only about 470 grams per square meter, a standard 6-foot-long and 4-foot-wide Shuizhu Cooling Mat requires over 70 jin (35 kg) of premium Shuizhu bamboo. Traditional Shuizhu Cooling Mats emphasize straight and clean patterns, simple and elegant designs. The weaving patterns are exquisitely detailed, including "person," "ten thousand," "plum blossom," and "interlocking" motifs. Using techniques such as lifting, picking, flying, and pressing the strips, artisans can weave patterns of figures, landscapes, flowers, birds, and insects in either natural or dyed colors, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.

　　The finished product is not only beautifully crafted but also comfortable to use, which is key to why the Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat has remained a cherished household essential for centuries, beloved and widely sought after. Due to the cooling properties, softness, flat nodes, and fine strip texture of the Shuizhu bamboo material, the finished mat is soft, smooth, cool, and heat-dispersing. Even during the peak summer heat, lying on a Shuizhu Cooling Mat provides a refreshing, cool sensation with a gentle breeze and the subtle aroma of bamboo. Over time, the color of the mat gradually changes from green to orange-red or brownish-red, becoming crystal-clear and exuding an antique charm, while its cooling performance improves even further. The Shuizhu Cooling Mat is also highly durable, typically lasting over 30 years without rot or mold, making it seem almost magical to users.

　　Historically, as a famous local specialty, the finest Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mats were selected by local officials each year and specially transported to the capital for the enjoyment of emperors and nobles, hence earning the titles "Tribute Product" or "Tribute Mat." From the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period to the present day, the Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat has not only been popular domestically but also become an export product. According to the *Yiyang County Annals*: "In 1915, it was first exhibited at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition and won an award. In 1955, a 'Peace Forever' patterned mat woven by workers at the Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat Factory won a silver medal at the Leipzig International Fair in Germany. The 'Yiyang Brand' Shuizhu Cooling Mat was exported to more than ten countries and regions, including Japan, the United States, and Southeast Asia."

　　The Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat is truly unique. Mats produced in other regions are mostly made from grass, and although some are woven from moso bamboo, hairy bamboo, or yellow bamboo strips, none can reach the same level of refinement or appeal to both refined and common tastes. Only the Yiyang-produced Shuizhu Cooling Mat achieves this. As a result, its craftsmanship is also unique—possessing qualities unmatched by various grass mats or bamboo mats. The nearly twenty production procedures ensure that the Yiyang Shuizhu Cooling Mat is suitable for all households regardless of status, offering comfort, excellent heat dissipation, aesthetic refinement, customizable sizes, and exceptional durability.