In the past, the bamboo logging industry in the Fuxing District thrived due to the development of Taiwan’s bamboo industry. The flexible and resilient Guizhu bamboo was processed into chopsticks and various agricultural and fishing tools, and it became the foundation for bamboo sword-making techniques that flourished in Taiwan during the 1970s. Guizhu grows rapidly, maturing in just 2 to 3 years, but typically withers after about 7 to 10 years, necessitating regular thinning to enhance soil fertility. Historically, bamboo logging was one of the primary sources of income for the Atayal people.

However, due to the rise of chemical materials and the relocation of processing industries, bamboo prices have plummeted. Additionally, restrictions on logging in Indigenous reserves have significantly reduced the number of bamboo loggers, resulting in a decline from its former glory. Today, most young people lack experience in bamboo logging.

Little Stories of Great Significance: Where the Atayal People Are, There Is Guizhu

Source：CredereMedia