Exploring Old Occupations in Tainan
Route Introduction
Quenxing Tatami Store
No. 46, Xinmei Street, Zongxi District, Tainan City
The term,"Ta-Ta-Mi", comes from たたみ in Japanese. It's written as " 畳 " (pronounced as "die" in Chinese) in Japanese Kanji. Tatami is usually paved onto the floor. In Japan, the physical area of a room can be measured by the number of tatami used. In the old time, a room is usually at the size of six tatamis. The founder of the store, Mr. Li Jin-Shui, learned to make tatami with an old master from Okada, Japan. Mater Li started this store on Xinmei Street after the war. He had prosperous business and also witnessed the decline of tatami when it was replaced by spring mattresses. Fortunately, Master Li's grandson, Li Zong-Xun, is willing to carry on this traditional craftsmanship and has taken over the business.