Zhuo Ye Cottage

Indigo plants, nurtured by the earth, local soil, and natural environment, contain the incredible 'indigo pigment'. The mysterious transformation of its colors is astonishing, and every drop is a precious gift from nature. From this, the diversity and refinement of indigo dyeing techniques have been honed, also ushering in the rustic and folk nature of indigo dyeing culture. Sanyi is a very typical Hakka village, and the 'Hakka blue shirt' was once the main color of common people's attire. Our ancestors wore indigo-dyed clothes when going up mountains or down to the fields, which could prevent snake and insect attacks. Modern scientific research and analysis have also confirmed that indigo-dyed clothing has natural antibacterial properties, which can prevent skin diseases. The Hakka blue shirt was an important garment for our ancestors as they 'braved hardships to open up mountains and forests'. Zhuo Ye is located in the mountainous area of Sanyi, which is warm, humid, and often cloudy and misty – precisely the environment suitable for mountain indigo to grow. Therefore, developing the indigo dyeing industry here has numerous necessities and advantages, including geographical and climatic conditions, local culture, and industrial aspects. In 2004, we introduced indigo dyeing techniques into the park, establishing a natural dyeing workshop within the premises. We fully integrated the entire indigo dyeing production process, from cultivating indigo plants, extracting indigo dye, managing indigo dye vats, indigo craftsmanship, to post-processing, all incorporated into our business scope. The operating couple of Zhuo Ye Cottage possesses extensive academic backgrounds in tourism and agriculture. Combining their profound management experience and professional knowledge, they innovated and manage this cultural park. They have also invited numerous indigo dyeing artists, artisans, and designers (including the second-generation operator Zhuo Zi-luo, who has an artistic background from NTNU's Fine Arts Department and NTU's Graduate Institute of Bio-Industry Communication and Development) to join this industry, rich in creativity and tradition. They strive to combine agriculture with craftsmanship, creating a brand new business model. Upholding the 'Three Lives Spirit' – 'Production', 'Ecology', and 'Life' – we respect the 'Life' of nature and promote the 'Six-Level Industry' model in practice: Production (Primary) × Processing (Secondary) × Service Industry (Tertiary). By integrating agricultural production, living culture, cultural and creative arts, and the ecological environment, we have successfully shaped a farm experience that blends leisure, craftsmanship, culture, and creativity.