Bamboo, neither grass nor wood, with its unique material and vitality, was once an indispensable part of the lives of Taiwan's island residents. The process of the bamboo industry moving from prosperity to transformation also seems to reflect the century-long struggle history of other traditional industries in Taiwan, serving as a lifestyle guide co-authored by generations.

For centuries, various ethnic groups have woven together a diverse bamboo culture in Taiwan: the Austronesian peoples created myths of birth from bamboo, the Hakka are skilled in bamboo weaving, and indigenous peoples integrate bamboo into their daily lives. The Hoklo further developed the bamboo cage industry to meet local demand and export overseas, creating massive business opportunities. Zhushan and other areas became major hubs for the bamboo industry, and the production model of "the living room is the factory" sustained the livelihoods of countless families in central and southern Taiwan.

The book "Bamboo: An Island Life Guide of Neither Grass Nor Tree" attempts to start from the century-long development of Taiwan's bamboo industry, tracing how bamboo emerged and evolved from the everyday culture of various ethnic groups, ultimately moving toward an industrial future connected with the international community. Through this book, we hope to rediscover contemporary values and possibilities for bamboo.

In terms of design, the spine uses sewn perfect binding to simulate bamboo joints, the inner pages use gold-foiled Musha paper to present the texture of bamboo strips, and the cover is wrapped in white linen paper mixed with bamboo fibers, using the paper material itself to convey the aesthetic and symbolic beauty of bamboo's local culture.