Can the oil-paper umbrella in Xingyang, Yunnan date back to the Southern Song Dynasty?

The oil-paper umbrella in Xingyang, Yunnan Province can be traced back to the 61st year of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty (1722).

In the traditional customs of China people, the oil-paper umbrella can not only keep out wind and rain and sunshine, but also be endowed with the meaning of "many children and grandchildren" because there are four words in the traditional Chinese character "umbrella". In the local dialect of Xingyang Village, "paper" and "zi" are homophonic. In the old society, a woman must have two oil-paper umbrellas in her wedding dowry, which means "having a baby early". In the wedding ceremony, the utensils used to ward off evil spirits when the bride gets off the sedan chair are also essential. In addition, the oil-paper umbrella is homophonic with "you", so the local people will bring an oil-paper umbrella, a bamboo stool and a chicken coop to the son-in-law's house within one month after their daughter gets married, wishing the young couple a full house.

Extended data:

The production technology of oil-paper umbrella in Xingyang, Yunnan is very particular. There are more than ten steps before and after, such as cutting umbrella ribs, winding sideline, pasting paper, watering persimmons, closing umbrella, drawing umbrella, fitting handles, applying tung oil, nailing cloth ends, winding handles and threading inside lines.

Of all the steps, the most skillful one is to cut the umbrella bones, because a paper umbrella has short bones and long bones. Not only do you have to cut the bamboo one by one, but you also have to drill holes one by one, which is quite labor-consuming. The choice of raw materials is also very particular. Bamboo, umbrella paper and cotton thread should be carefully selected, and the natural cooked tung oil and persimmon water in the paint should be prepared according to the ancient method.

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