Straw Sandals and Paper Umbrella

The straw sandals was a kind of slip-on shoes made of straw with sole but without vamp. It is very cheap and easy to put on with two laces. It can protect and cool feet. Even it is said that it can get rid of evil influence, because apparition fear the straw sandals. So actors on the stage usually put on straw sandals to drive off evil spirit. Paper umbrella's framework is made of bamboo, and its surface is made of paper wiped of Chinese wood oil. Paper umbrella is tougher than cloth umbrella, having more extensive surface against burning sun and heavy rain. Chaozhou was famous for its paper umbrella in ancient time. It is easy to carry and use. And it is described in the ancient ballad as " the beautiful wife living on Guanrongshan is good at dressing her husband up, she gives him straw sandals and paper umbrella for walking a long way to carry out his dream, then he will be back ridding on a white horse with a golden saddle." We can learn from the above that both straw sandals and paper umbrella are very popular before Liberation(1940s). But they almost disappeared today, replaced by rubber shoes and plastic umbrella. Because they are more difficult and usually take a longer time to produce.