China · Structural Craft / Textile
西湖绸伞 (Xīhú Chóu Sǎn)
The Hangzhou silk umbrella (西湖绸伞) is a refined decorative and functional parasol combining split-bamboo rib engineering with hand-painted silk canopy — produced in Hangzhou since the 1930s as a cultural emblem of the West Lake aesthetic. Unlike the Luzhou oil paper umbrella (CRAFT-0364), which uses tung oil-proofed paper for waterproofing, the Hangzhou silk umbrella uses silk organza painted with West Lake landscapes, lotus flowers, or traditional patterns, prioritizing visual elegance over weatherproofing. The procedural knowledge centers on bamboo rib splitting to hair-thin profiles (similar to Sichuan bamboo weaving in precision), the silk painting technique on the translucent organza (which requires controlling dye bleed on a fabric with no sizing), and the rib tension calculation that allows the umbrella to open to a perfect circle without any rib crossing or gapping.
Risk level: Endangered · Zhejiang Provincial ICH List (2009)
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