Hakka Living Museum Series, Vol. 3 – The Oil Paper Umbrellas

Author: Hou, Lulu Shur-tzy
Publication Date: December 2006
The Hakka Living Museum Series is a collection of works based on extensive field investigations and ethnographic documentation of Hakka culture. Initiated by the Preparatory Office of the Taiwan Hakka Cultural Center, Council for Hakka Affairs, Executive Yuan, this series aims to preserve and promote Hakka heritage by selecting themes that resonate with the general public. Topics include familiar aspects of daily life such as “Blue Garments,” “Oil-Paper Umbrellas,” and “Pottery Kilns” (representing Hakka crafts), as well as “Tobacco Curing Barn,” “Rice Milling Workshop,” and “Irrigation Canals” (representing industrial and agricultural heritage sites).
Each volume invites scholars to reorganize and interpret their long-term field research, enriched with abundant photographic materials, in order to illuminate the living experiences and wisdom of the Hakka people.
In Hakka culture, the oil paper umbrellas, whose name (油紙 in Hakka pronunciation) sound similar to “having sons” (iuˇ ziiˋ，有子), symbolizes fertility and the wish for a prosperous family lineage. This work traces how the umbrella evolved from a practical everyday object into an art form. Through in-depth interviews with nine umbrella craftmasters from Meinong—each representing a vital link in the transmission of traditional skills—the author documents in detail the handmade techniques of oil paper umbrella craftsmanship, while also examining the historical development, current status quo, and future prospects of this unique cultural industry.