Kaixian Shuizhu Mat

Kaixian Shuizhu Mat

The Kaixian Shuizhu Mat is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　 Although Kaixian is located in a remote area, it has a history of nearly 1800 years since its establishment as a county in the 21st year of Jian’an during the Eastern Han Dynasty (216 AD). “The scenery is bustling, talents gather, farmers, artisans, and merchants all uphold rituals and poetry, with every household engaged in learning and recitation” (Qing Dynasty · Qianlong’s “Kaixian Annals”). Today, Kaixian on the map resembles a sweet orange leaf and is known as the “Orange Township” and “Golden Kaixian.” It is one of the major counties in Chongqing and also the county with the largest number of migrants from the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Much of its most fertile land was submerged. On one hand, the people of Kaixian made great sacrifices for the construction of the Three Gorges, leaving their homes to resettle elsewhere; on the other hand, the rising waters washed away poverty and isolation. Perhaps some ancestral civilization will be submerged in the realm of swimming fish. Yet I am truly pleased that the “Three Treasures” of my hometown, Kaixian, may usher in a brand-new era as the waters of the gorges gradually rise.

　　For home essentials, high-quality items are a must. No matter how bedding has evolved today, in Kaixian, every summer bed features a Shuizhu mat. Made from locally sourced bamboo, it undergoes processes such as stripping the green layer, splitting the bamboo, preparing the bamboo strips, passing them through an even knife, and undergoing physicochemical treatments before being meticulously woven. During use, the Shuizhu mat naturally changes color—starting off light green, gradually turning yellow, then medium yellow, then golden yellow. With years of use, the yellow deepens, eventually showing hints of red, creating a pleasing contrast of red and yellow. The longer it is used, the softer and smoother the surface becomes, offering a cool and comfortable feel, and it remains undamaged even when folded. The highest quality Shuizhu mats are those made from waxed bamboo strips. After the bamboo is split into strips, the green and yellow strips are sorted and soaked in water for several winters, enhancing their flexibility and moisture absorption. Because they are aged over winter, they are called “waxed strips.” It seems they absorb the cold of winter to regulate the heat of summer—how could they not be cool? For this reason, waxed strips are especially favored by the people of Kaixian, to the extent that in the countryside they can even be used as units of measurement, such as the depth of a well in so many waxed strips, or the width of a river in so many waxed strips, and so on.

　　A good Shuizhu mat is essentially a work of art. The craft of weaving mats in Kaixian began during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Through the efforts of generations of skilled artisans, some master weavers emerged. Utilizing the natural variations in the reflection of bamboo strips, they wove intricate patterns of landscapes, figures, birds, and beasts within the confined space of a single mat. These patterns are rich in layers, vivid in imagery, resembling elegant and subtle paintings, and are considered treasures among mats. Moreover, the variety has expanded to include over 10 types, such as sitting mats, sleeping mats, hanging mats, and curtain mats, which are exported to various countries in East and Southeast Asia. In the 1960s, when Premier [Names Redacted] visited Indonesia and other countries, they brought Kaixian bamboo mats woven with patterns such as “Witch’s Peak,” “Two Dragons Fighting for the Pearl,” “Fairy Scattering Flowers,” and “Chang’e Flying to the Moon.” These were either given as gifts to friendly nations or exhibited abroad as handicrafts. It is no exaggeration to say that the Kaixian bamboo mat is ranked among the six most famous mats in China. (Kaixian)