美濃油紙傘

SweetLemon

一把古樸的油紙傘，是否會令你想起……《白蛇傳》中許仙借傘的凄美愛情故事呢？古代的傘又稱為『蓋』；它和扇子一樣，最初是用鳥的羽毛製成的。隨著絲織品的出現，而逐漸採用羅絹作傘。發明了紙以後，油紙傘又風行起來。

臺灣傳統的傘藝，以油紙傘最為知名，發祥地是在高雄縣的美濃鎮。據說，六十多年前廣東梅縣師傅來台傳承了油紙傘的製傘技藝，因而成了美濃客家傳統文化中的一環。在時代的變遷下，如今以廣華興紙傘算是當地最具規模的老字號。

油紙傘在客家人生活中扮演著重要角色，除遮陽避雨之外，更具有吉祥的象徵；因『紙』與『子』諧音，所以男孩16歲成年禮時，父母即贈與一對紙傘；「傘」的結構共有五人，象徵「多子多孫」；而圓形的傘面，則代表「圓滿」、「緣分」之意。因此，女兒出嫁時，父母會以一對紙傘作為嫁妝，取「早生貴子」之意。由此可見，客家文化的創意，除了實用功能之外，也賦予油紙傘不同層面的價值。


近幾年來，連外國人也對美濃紙傘產生興趣，紛紛來到美濃，體會與欣賞這項藝術品。

alecpanyin

多謝分享

chowold2

If I have one, I am not going to use it. I don't want to break it. It looks very beautiful.

norman.ho

Very pretty umbrellas, and thanks letting me know of the tradition of giving the beautiful painted oil paper umbrella to the son age 16,  but I thought those beautiful umbrellas would suit the daughters more, the son may find it a bit girlish using it.

orchids

If I have one, I am not going to use it. I don't want to break it. It looks very beautiful.
[quote][/quote]

Me too, agreed.

SweetLemon

These are considered as collectibles I am sure.
I am not aware if umbrella is given to 16 yr old son or during marriage.
The Hakka people in Malaysia give kerosene oil lamp for wedding for the meaning of 添灯。