Straw Stool

Straw Stool

　　Straw Stool

　　The submitted “Straw Stool” is made by twisting carefully selected straw into long rectangular strips, rolling them into a solid cylinder, and binding them with bamboo strips. It contains wild medicinal herbs from Mount Foding, including chrysanthemum, heartleaf houttuynia, honeysuckle, dandelion, white peony root, cyperus rotundus, sargentodoxa cuneata, hedyotis diffusa, motherwort, plantain, soap thorn, and fleeceflower root. These herbs offer certain health benefits and therapeutic effects for conditions such as gynecological inflammation, pelvic inflammatory disease, menstrual disorders, as well as anorectal issues like perianal conditions, eczema, various hemorrhoids, and anal fissures. The stool provides warmth in winter, coolness in summer, breathability, heat dissipation, and gentle massage to the hips. The Gelao people living around Mount Foding have long used these straw stools as seating, which has helped prevent and reduce the incidence of these ailments, contributing to their health and longevity.

　　With the development of tourism in the Yao Shang Ethnic Culture Village, the straw stool has become a popular souvenir sought after by visitors.

　　The “Straw Stool” won the county-level “Ethnic Style” Award and the regional-level Originality Third Prize at the “Colorful Guizhou” Tourism Commodities Competition and Exhibition in 2007. It also received an Honorable Mention at the 2006 Kailin Cup “Colorful Guizhou” Tourism Commodity Artisans Selection Competition.