Yuanli Rush Mats & Dadu Straw Hats

Yuanli Rush Mats & Dadu Straw Hats

　　Yuanli rush mats and Dadu straw hats are renowned local specialties of central Taiwan. The rocky Da’an River delineates the boundary between Miaoli County and Taichung County, while the lush cattails growing in its downstream wetlands gave rise to a once-thriving handcrafted straw hat industry on both sides of the river—most notably, the handmade production in northern Yuanli and the export-focused manufacturing in southern Dadu. The craft of cattail weaving originated from indigenous techniques. As early as the 18th century, Pingpu women in the Yuanli area discovered that dried wild cattails were remarkably tough and resilient. They began using them to weave bags, knife sheaths, and headbands. Later, they innovated further by crafting cattail mats, which were not only fragrant and comfortable for sleeping but also easy to fold and carry. Settlers from the Han community who tried them were impressed and quickly learned the mat-weaving techniques, while also planting cattails extensively and refining processing methods. At the time, the Han people incorporated dragon and phoenix motifs as well as landscape patterns into the designs, calling them “patterned mats.” Due to their superior quality, elegant appearance, and breathable comfort, these mats became highly favored among nobility and officials, earning the nickname “dragon-whisker mats.” Yuanli women also developed the technique for weaving straw hats, which swiftly spread to neighboring towns. From then on, Yuanli’s handmade straw hats became distinctive and trendsetting. Around the same time, merchants in Dadu were the first to establish trading firms, opening up export markets for the abundant supply of Yuanli hats and mats. Since the coastal railway had not yet been built, the hats and mats from Yuanli were transported by light rail to Dadu, then shipped out via the main trunk railway. As a result, “Dadu straw hats and mats” gained widespread fame, even though the actual production site—Yuanli—remained comparatively less known. Today, Yuanli is a laid-back town along Taiwan’s western coastline. On its old street, only two traditional shops remain: “Zhenfa” at No. 159 and “Qianchang” at No. 116. They sell locally handcrafted straw hats, business card holders, coasters, and tote bags, many of which include antiques dating back decades and preserve the old artistry of cattail weaving. Additionally, the fourth floor of the Yuanli Township Farmers’ Association houses a Cattail Cultural Museum, which details the history of Yuanli’s hat and mat weaving, showcases the weaving process through models, and displays exquisite woven items such as dragon-whisker mats, straw hats, and handbags. As for Dadu, once the hub of exports, plain straw mats and hats are all that are commonly available today. To help the public appreciate the beauty of woven crafts, the Dadu Township Farmers’ Association also runs a Straw Weaving Exhibition Hall, featuring national treasure-level dragon-whisker mats, straw hats, and handbags—but it is only open during business hours. (Miaoli County)