West Lake silk umbrella

In the early 30s of the 20th century, Zhu Zhenfei, a worker of Hangzhou Dujinsheng Silk Weaving Factory, created the first West Lake silk umbrella. Because of its delicate shape and brilliant colors, it is very popular. After the liberation, Hangzhou increased the development of the West Lake silk umbrella, and set up the Hangzhou Institute of Arts and Crafts West Lake Silk Umbrella Group, full-time silk umbrella technology research and development. In 2008, the West Lake Silk Umbrella was listed as the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage projects.

The West Lake silk umbrella is exquisitely selected and exquisitely made. The umbrella surface is as thick as cicada wings, finely woven, and the silk surface is depicted with depictions of landscapes, flowers and birds, and figures. The umbrella bone is made of light bamboo in Anji, Deqing, Zhejiang, and the bamboo that grows for more than 3 years is generally selected, with a diameter of about 5 cm, and there must be no dark side and markings. Before and after the silk umbrella, it needs to go through more than ten processes such as umbrella surface decoration, umbrella bone skimming, shelf, stringing, trimming, folding umbrella, pasting green, scraping, rod loading, baotou handle, threading, nail buckle, umbrella repair, etc., before it can be produced.

After 2002, the silk umbrella market began to shrink. Due to the poor rain and wind resistance of silk umbrellas, coupled with the high cost and high price, the sales of umbrellas are getting less and less, and the production skills are facing loss. In 2008, the Hangzhou Municipal Government established a project to establish the National Umbrella Museum of China, with a view to preserving and inheriting the unique West Lake silk umbrella culture. At present, most of the so-called West Lake silk umbrellas on the market are spinning silk umbrellas produced in Jiangxi and Hunan, and the authentic West Lake silk umbrellas are almost extinct.