What are the values of oil paper umbrellas?

What are the values of oil paper umbrellas?

 

一. Folklore Value

The bone of the oil paper umbrella is made of bamboo.

The bamboo not only the natural character of long-lasting evergreen, buut also there are knots on the bamboo.

which means

• as tough as bamboo,
• as noble as bamboo.

The shape of the oil paper umbrella is round.

Not only means a beautiful life, but also a reunion.

The color of the umbrella is red, which is a symbol of joy and happiness.
Since ancient times, the Chinese people have advocat for festivity and good fortune.

The red color of the oil paper umbrella can be use in weddings,and add a festive atmosphere.

• reflects the folk cult of fertility,
• expression of people’s pursuit of happiness
• hope for the prosperity of their family members.

The ancient word for umbrella is “umbrella”,

• many people under the umbrella,
• and “oil paper” means “having children”,
• people are prosperous.

The oil paper umbrella has the meaning 

• warding off evil spirits
• disasters.

The main dye of the oil paper umbrella is tung oil,

Not only repel evil spirits and avoid ghosts, but also leave immediately when it smells like tung oil.

When getting married, people would make an oil paper umbrella for the bride, which had the meaning

• warding off evil spirits
• disasters.

二. Practical value

China has producing oil paper umbrellas for 1000+ years.

The oil-paper umbrella has been a daily necessity, until modern umbrellas appear, and people use it to

• protect themselves from the wind and rain.

Although it is a combination

• bamboo
• paper

it is made of cook tung oil, which creates a natural covering effect when it rains, making it more rainproof than ordinary umbrellas.

Oil paper umbrellas are lightning-proof.

Because the handle and frame of modern umbrellas are usually made of metal, the oil paper umbrella is a combination of bamboo and paper.

not only does not have the addition of modern metal tools, but is also lightning-proof.

Under the impact of modern umbrellas,

the oil paper umbrella gradually disappear from people’s daily utensils, changing from practical value to ornamental value.

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三. Ecological value

As a member of traditional Chinese handicrafts

the oil paper umbrella plays an important role in the path of ecological civilization.  

The oil paper umbrellas are handmade, and made from

• purely natural
• environmentally friendly materials.

The bamboo for the handle is cut from deep in the mountains.

The wild persimmons use as dye are pick from the mountains, and ferment in a jar for a week before use.

The tung oil use to brush the umbrellas,and hand-press from pure natural tung seeds.

The new umbrellas are put in a ventilat  place to dry, and the smell will dissipate, and is not harmful to human body.

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