Rush Weaving Master Chu Chou Kuei-chun Passes Away; Ministry of Culture to Issue Posthumous Citation

(CNA, by reporter Wang Pao-erh, Taipei, 18th) Chu Chou Kuei-chun, the preserver of Taichung City's traditional craft "rush weaving," passed away on the 16th at the age of 81. Upon hearing the news, Minister of Culture Lee Yuan expressed his condolences and stated that the Ministry of Culture will issue a posthumous citation to honor her.

Born in 1946, Chu Chou Kuei-chun learned rush weaving from a young age and continued the practice for decades without interruption. She was proficient in various rush weaving techniques and material processing procedures, and she excelled at weaving "Dragon and Phoenix mats." This technique uses a hollowed-out method to form dragon and phoenix patterns, requiring extreme care and clever calculation of positions, making it exceptionally difficult. In 2015, the Taichung City Government registered "rush weaving" as a traditional craft and recognized Chu Chou Kuei-chun as its preserver.

The traditional techniques of "rush weaving" can be divided into several types, such as "ya-yi," "ya-erh," "jian-zi," and "jian-hua." In recent years, 3D weaving methods have been developed, expanding the products from hats, mats, and cushions to shapes like lampshades, cup holders, teapots, teacups, and animals. The craft has also gradually shifted from practical use to more ornamental and decorative purposes.

The Ministry of Culture stated in a press release today that Chu Chou Kuei-chun's skills were exquisite. She was adept at techniques like 3D weaving and the "jian-hua" method, and could even weave a mat with a hollowed-out shape of the island of Taiwan. She made profound contributions to the preservation and inheritance of intangible cultural assets. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150618