On a refreshing day, we took a little trip to visit the old Master, whom took out both bamboo and rattan and taught us how to distinguish the difference between them. He told us that bamboos are hollow and the joints are more manifest, while rattan is solid. Fernleaf hedge bamboo and Makino Bamboo are the two most-used bamboos. The master took a small basket and said that fernleaf hedge bamboo is a softer bamboo with high plasticity, suitable for weaving smaller wares. He then pointed at the side of the chair, telling us it is Makino bamboo, whose texture is harder, more often used to make furniture, and more solid as well as durable.
The old master mentioned that he had students from different parts of the world, one of whom impressed him most is a German. Although they have language barrier, they made a chair under the guidance of the master. There are also teachers from Japan who came all the way to learn from him and make interviews. He welcomes people to learn from him, and does not charge any tuition fee. All he wants to do is to pass the precious craft down. And he also said that the Japanese, in particular, loves to customize his bamboo furniture. Because Japan is highly industrialized, their bamboo and rattan furniture are mostly made by machines. Compared to Taiwan's hand-made furniture, that made in Japan is less solid.
2018 International Cyberfair, Kaohsiung Girls' High School, Taiwan