Have you heard of traditional Chinese weaving?
Several regions around China are famous for their woven products, including Shandong, Ningbo and Longshan. You’ve probably seen them at temple fairs or for sale on the street around tourist sites. But what do you know about this beautiful art form?
Read on to learn more, including how you can try this traditional craft for yourself!
You can see woven products, usually daily necessities such as baskets and fans, all around China. At Temple Fairs for Spring Festival you can see woven toys in the form of animals and insects such as grasshoppers, dragonflies, locusts, shrimp and frogs.
The most traditional are grasshoppers, as seen in the photo at the top of the article!
From the archaeological evidence we can see that weaving has existed for at least 6000 years, but in fact it is likely to be much longer. Many different materials can be used, not only types of grass but straw from wheat, cattail, corn husks, hemp and palm leaves.
The tools used are very simple, just an awl and large needles, but the majority of work is done by hand. An experienced weaver can weave a small toy insect in just 2 or 3 minutes!
While, like most traditional arts and crafts, perfection of Chinese weaving takes a lot of time and practice, almost anyone can learn the basics quite quickly and create something they can proudly display!
If you would like to book a private grass weaving class for your friends or colleagues, feel free to contact us and let us know how we can help! We look forward to seeing you soon!
The Cultural Treasures of China blog is dedicated to introducing the cultural heritage of China. Be sure to check back often for our latest posts and learn about all the most interesting and exciting aspects of Chinese culture! If you would like us to write about a particular topic you’re interested in, or had any questions about the article, please feel to contact us at info@culturalkeys.cn. We’d love to hear from you!
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– Cultural Keys
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Cultural Keys helps you access, understand and enjoy life in China through traditional Chinese culture. Click here to read more about Cultural Keys and what we can do for you, your school, company or group to help you get more out of your time in China!