We all know that ancient Chinese used umbrellas on rainy days, but did they also use them for sun protection on sunny days? In historical dramas, oil-paper umbrellas are no longer just for rain but have become props to create an aesthetic atmosphere. They are often seen in scenes where the protagonist walks slowly under a bright sun with an oil-paper umbrella. While beautiful, these umbrellas are made of paper—can they withstand prolonged exposure to sunlight?
The answer is simple: ancient Chinese were clever. While oil-paper umbrellas weren’t practical for sunny days, they had other types of umbrellas specifically designed for sun protection. For example, during the Western Zhou Dynasty, umbrellas made of silk (bo) were used, though their primary purpose wasn’t sun protection but to signify noble status. The Northern Qi Dynasty had strict regulations: kings and high-ranking officials used purple umbrellas with pheasant tail decorations, while lower-ranking officials and scholars used blue umbrellas with green linings.
The "Yuxie" records that during the Wei Dynasty, people invented oil-paper umbrellas by splitting bamboo and coating paper with oil for daily convenience. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, elaborate canopies (huagai) became popular. The painted bronze chariot unearthed from the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang features an umbrella with a sophisticated mechanism that could tilt to block sunlight from different angles, incorporating the world’s earliest lotus-shaped base and gears. The huagai became a must-have for nobles.
Commoners couldn’t afford silk umbrellas but used straw raincoats (suo) and bamboo hats (douli) for sun and rain protection, as mentioned in the "Book of Songs." Archaeological finds also include curved-handle umbrellas, designed so attendants could walk behind nobles while holding them. Some umbrellas had bells hanging from their edges, likely for ceremonial or spiritual purposes.
The popularity of oil-paper umbrellas grew after Cai Lun improved papermaking in the Eastern Han Dynasty, making paper a cheaper alternative to silk. To waterproof them, people applied tung oil (tongyou), but prolonged sun exposure could crack the paper, shortening their lifespan.
Beyond practicality, umbrellas also served social purposes. The "Book of Southern History" recounts a man who covered his face with an umbrella to avoid acquaintances. By the Song Dynasty, umbrella use was widespread, including for sun protection. "The Records of Spirits" mentions a military officer shielding himself from the summer sun with an umbrella.
These weren’t necessarily oil-paper umbrellas but could be liangsan (cool umbrellas) made of silk or gauze, or even oil-cloth umbrellas (youbusan) made of cotton—a craft now listed as intangible cultural heritage. Tung oil, like modern umbrella coatings, was heatproof, waterproof, and corrosion-resistant. The "History of Song" notes that officials commonly used blue silk umbrellas, which were also used in weddings, as recorded in "Dream Pool Essays."
Sun umbrellas (taiyangsan) were already common in Bianjing, the Northern Song capital, as depicted in the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" painting, which features 42 umbrellas, including lotus-shaped ones.
Today, many avoid oil-paper umbrellas due to their non-foldable design, but their unique craftsmanship embodies Eastern wisdom. No perfect folding solution exists that preserves their traditional artistry, but some still carry them in long cases, embracing the ritualistic charm of this iconic accessory.
