from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhufuren
A Bamboo wife, or Dutch wife, or Zhufuren (竹夫人), Jukbuin (죽부인, 竹夫人), or Chikufujin (竹夫人?), is a hollow bamboo bolster roughly the size of a human body.The origin of the English term "Dutch wife" is thought to be from the Dutch colony of Indonesia where Dutch traders would spend long periods away from their wives. Bamboo wives are typically hand-woven from bamboo cane.In the summer heat, the open bamboo structure is cooler to the touch than fabric pillows or sheets. The Dutch wife is embraced by the user, as one would a sleeping companion—this position exposes the maximum amount of the body to cooling breezes. This and other devices, such as pillows of a similar shape, may also alleviate lower back pain when placed between the legs during sleep periods. Bamboo wife and their variants in other countries have their origin and use in East Asia and Southeast Asia, tropical regions with hot, humid seasons.They are now less popular to the point of extinction, possibly due to the prevalence of air conditioning. As a replacement for Dutch wives made from bamboo, they can also be made of cotton or other synthetic fiber. Dutch wives made of cotton or other synthetic fiber are still widely used in Indonesia.One definition of Dutch Wife is : An open frame constructed of cane, originally used in the Dutch East Indies and other hot countries to rest the limbs in bed; also a bolster used for the same purpose. Called thus because it was round, fat and just lay there.
In culture[edit]
