Ancient china umbrella who invented it

The frames of most umbrellas in China were and are made from bamboo or mulberry bark. Regarding the invention of umbrella, there are many folk legends, among which the most widely spread one is the story about Luban inventing umbrella. Luban is a renowned carpenter, engineer and inventor in ancient China.

So Luban built pavilions along the road. Later on, as inspired by children using lotus leaves for rain shelter, he invented the first umbrella by making a flexible framework covered by a cloth.

Phillips changed the game with a foldable umbrella. People were now able to easily store their umbrellas and take them on the go. Going green became more important than ever before, leading to an eco-friendly umbrella from Wayne Hemingway.

This stylish model is made from A photographer for National Geographic captured pictures of a frog using a leaf as an umbrella. This sparked debate on whether or not umbrellas were created to meet an evolutionary need. The umbrella was used as a political statement in Hong Kong.

Protesters used theirs as a shield from pepper spray as they demanded a more democratic nation. The invention, which got its start on Kickstarter, connects to your phone via Bluetooth. Early umbrellas, or as they were known parasols, were designed by the Egyptians around B. The first models were made from feathers or lotus leaves, attached to a stick, and were used to offer shade to the nobility. As they made their way overseas, umbrellas were regarded as status symbols, especially in China.

Servants would hold theirs during carriage rides to protect members of the royal family from inclement weather. The frame was instead constructed from cane or sandalwood, while the covers consisted of leather, cloth, or silk.

You were made to use flimsy models constructed from stout paper instead. Listen to the umbrella. Look at its color and the way the light touches it. Know the story it wants you to tell before you begin. Oil-paper umbrellas have a remarkable history in ancient China. During the Han Dynasty, these umbrellas were painted with visually appealing motifs or positive messages. Each one was unique and showcased the fine craftsmanship of the Chinese people.

These handmade parasols were constructed with a bamboo frame and thin, durable paper made from tree bark. The decorative patterns typically consisted of elements found in nature, such as birds, flowers, and landscapes. Really talented artists were able to depict full storylines. Nowadays, oil-paper umbrellas are still found in Asian plays, movies, dances, and weddings. Paper umbrellas are easier to fashion, they can be treated with oil to make them impermeable, or water resistant, and they lend themselves admirably to artistic decoration.

Most paper umbrellas produced today are made impermeable with glutinous tung oil aka Chinawood oil, from the euphorbiaceous tree, Aleurites fordii, found throughout central Asia. The main areas of production of impermeable Chinese paper umbrellas are Fujian and Hunan Provinces. The construction process of the fixed umbrella involves 5 parts: the head, the handle, the ribs, the paper shade and the artistic embellishment a collapsible umbrella naturally involves a 6th part: articulated joints.

The production of each part requires great skill, since all 5 parts must assemble to a perfectly formed umbrella. Though each part of the 5-part umbrella is important, the three most demanding parts to produce are the ribs, the paper shade and its artistic embellishment.

The ribs must be made of a material that is both strong and pliable, with the most common material being bamboo.

The bamboo to be used must be at least 5 years old - otherwise the resins in the bamboo, that permit strength combined with flexibility, will not have been developed. The alternative material used in the construction of umbrella ribs is the bark of the mulberry tree. The paper shade itself is made of a special, tissue-thin fibrous paper that is very strong and tear-resistant. The thin paper is first impregnated in a bath of tung oil, rendering the paper highly translucent — almost transparent.

Personal use was not the only application for umbrellas, and many innovative designs were introduced even as early as 3rd century AD collapsible mechanisms, extendable shafts, umbrellas for horse riders and carriages. Surrounding countries adopted the umbrella into their tradition, often showcasing intricate designs and artwork with great pride, especially by royal members in Korea, Burma and Siam. Acceptance of umbrella as an integral part of culture took greatest hold in Japan, where even today pale female skin represents a measure of beauty.

Such important fashion statement did not stay in Asia for long, and travelers from the west soon carried Chinese umbrellas to continental Europe who was just exiting Dark Ages and was eager to adopt new fashion from distant lands.