Courtesy of Editorial Office, Nadolan Studio & Krux Studio
Handwoven crafts - whether made of fabric or rattan - are among the most genuine gifts of Hualien. They embody cultural memory and heritage, allowing the stories of the tribes to continue with every thread woven.
From the Stage to the Loom｜Nadolan - Weaving the Rhythm of Life
Nadolan, or known to many as Hsiu-Lan Hu, recipient of the Council of Indigenous Peoples’ Traditional Weaving Artisan Award, is a warm, charismatic woman with a lively spirit. Her earliest memories of weaving date back to childhood, when she slept beside her grandmother. At 3 or 4 a.m., she would be awakened by the sound of weaving. The threads became her toys, and weaving became second nature. Unexpectedly, at age 19, she became a professional show dancer. Years later, life took another turn - during a performance trip to Japan, she apprenticed in tailoring and quilting, studying by day and performing by night. Exposure to a foreign culture sharpened her sense of color and design.
After returning to Taiwan, Nadolan realized how deeply Japan valued traditional craftsmanship, while weaving in her own tribe was slowly disappearing. With her husband and son, she founded a studio to promote indigenous culture and bring weaving back into daily life. She chose to use modern looms - not to change tradition, but to carry ancestral wisdom forward in contemporary ways.
Weaving Taroko Life into Art｜Nadolan Studio
Nadolan Studio, named after the tribal name her father gave her, is the stage on which she tells her life stories through patterns and motifs. The compact studio is filled with colorful woven pieces and indigenous crafts, with new works appearing on every visit. She laughs that although she often wants to rest, she can never sit still - when inspiration comes, she immediately weaves memories and legends into her designs.
Her husband prepares materials, drafts patterns, and handles cutting; she focuses on design and sewing. Their son even breaks the Taroko taboo against men weaving, using a modern loom to create textiles rich with tribal stories. Nadolan firmly believes in the mission of passing on the craft: “Skills are meant to be shared, not kept.” Today, the studio includes her son, her husband, and a group of young tribal members passionate about weaving. Together, they break traditional and gender boundaries, using a “family collaboration” model to bring weaving back into tribal life. In doing so, Taroko weaving traditions shine once again in a contemporary form.
INFO｜Nadolan Studio
Address: No. 53-1, Xiulin Township, Hualien County
Telephone: 0912-243040
Business hours: The studio is not regularly open to the public. Custom requests are welcome via
A Craft Learned Through Watching｜Tumun Masaw’s Journey of Rattan Weaving
“My father always told me: ‘Watch closely! Watch closely!’ And by watching, I inherited not only his craft, but his very presence and memories.” Taroko artisan Tumun Masaw says with a smile. In tribal tradition, rattan weaving has always been a man’s craft, while women traditionally weave fabric. Rattan is an essential plant for the Taroko - used as food, building material, and household tools. The laborious steps - splitting, smoking, drying, pest-proofing - were traditionally men’s responsibilities. Her father, Asing Masaw was one of the few master weavers in the tribe. Although custom dictated that skills were passed only to sons, he silently allowed his daughter to learn by observing.
Through watching and persistent practice, Tumun eventually mastered his techniques. Today, she runs Krux Studio, promoting rattan weaving and offering workshops that teach the relationship between rattan and the forest. After her father’s passing, she and her sister took over the studio. Facing doubt from those who questioned a woman weaving rattan, she laughs: “Their skepticism only pushed me to get better!” In her hands, every strand of rattan is more than material - it is a living thread connecting her father’s memory and Taroko cultural identity.
A Life of Rattan Craft - from Fingertips to the Heart｜Krux Studio
Step into Krux Studio, and the fragrance of rattan fills the air. Large and small carrying baskets, fish traps, hats, and bags - traditional tools of all kinds - are neatly displayed. Every piece is handmade by Tumun Masaw. To help this ancient craft enter modern life, she has creatively adapted traditional tools by making smaller versions or transforming them into home décor and keepsakes, allowing rattan art to take on new forms in daily living.
When talking about rattan weaving, she laughs and says, “It’s a love-hate relationship!” Wild rattan is full of thorns and must be gathered from high in the mountains. After harvesting, it still needs to go through smoking and two to three months of drying before it can even be used. From cutting the rattan to shaving it and finally weaving it, every step leaves her hands covered in thick calluses - but also filled with a deep sense of accomplishment. Because wild rattan is so difficult to obtain, she went on to develop techniques using imported yellow rattan and even plastic cords, broadening both the design possibilities and pricing flexibility. Today, her “Krux Studio” is able to take custom orders, and she is often invited to teach rattan-weaving workshops. These calluses, along with her creations, are the most precious gifts her father left to her - every strand of rattan is a living link to memory, culture, and the roots of inheritance.
INFO｜Krux Studio
Address: No. 38, Minle Rd., Neighborhood 9, Fushi Village, Xiulin Township, Hualien County
Telephone: 0936-102826
Business hours: The studio is not regularly open to the public. Custom requests are welcome via Facebook or phone.