Willow Weaving
01 · Historical Records
After the 1950s, with the support of the local government and the dedicated transmission efforts of folk artisans, the grass and willow weaving industry gradually developed from small workshops into production of a certain scale.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Boxing willow weaving is mainly distributed around Mada Lake and in Jinqiu Subdistrict of Boxing County, Binzhou City, Shandong Province. The grass and willow weaving craft has a long local history; during the Ming and Qing dynasties it began to spread among women in places such as Jinqiu, and later gradually became a principal sideline occupation of the area. The raw materials for grass and willow weaving are mainly cattail grass, reed grass, mao (hair) grass, corn husks, and winter wheat stalks grown for as long as two years, all growing in local wetlands; these plants have uniform fibers, soft texture, long culms, a low degree of lignification, and are easy to work with. In recent years, locally produced grass and willow woven items include daily-use home crafts such as tea coasters, seat cushions, door mats, grass-woven storage boxes, and grass-woven glass-bottle covers; the range of categories is complete, the shapes are attractive, the colors are bright, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. Besides meeting domestic demand, they have also been exported to Singapore, South Korea, Japan, the United States, France, and other countries, as well as the Hong Kong and Taiwan regions, with annual sales revenue exceeding 50 million US dollars. Boxing willow weaving products feel soft, are economical and environmentally friendly, and have distinct local features and stylistic characteristics; they are famous traditional crafts of Shandong Province and deserve protection.
Mada lake and Jinqiu
Boxing's willow and straw plaiting is centred on the banks of Mada lake and Jinqiu township, becoming a major sideline by the Ming-Qing period.
Reed, cattail and winter wheat straw
Reed, cattail, corn husk and two-year winter wheat straw give the local weaving its soft, eco-friendly quality.
Exported overseas
Boxing straw and willow products reach Singapore, Korea, Japan, the United States and France.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Boxing willow weaving and the grass and willow weaving craft are mainly distributed around Mada Lake and in Jinqiu Subdistrict of Boxing County, Binzhou City, Shandong Province; during the Ming and Qing dynasties, grass and willow weaving began to spread among women in places such as Jinqiu and later gradually became a principal sideline occupation of the area. The raw materials used are cattail grass, reed grass, mao grass, corn husks, and winter wheat stalks grown for as long as two years from local wetlands; these plants have uniform fibers, soft texture, long culms, and a low degree of lignification, and are easy to use. Boxing willow weaving products feel soft, are economical and environmentally friendly, and have distinct local features and stylistic characteristics; they are famous traditional crafts of Shandong Province. In recent years, because hand weaving is labor-intensive, substitute materials have multiplied, and the number of practitioners has declined, transmission of the craft faces pressure.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Willow Weaving · Willow Weaving · Willow Weaving · Willow Weaving · Willow Weaving · Willow Weaving · Willow Weaving.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
After the 1950s, with local government support and transmission by folk artisans, Boxing grass and willow weaving gradually developed from small workshops into production of a certain scale. Its products include daily-use home crafts such as tea coasters, seat cushions, door mats, grass-woven storage boxes, and grass-woven glass-bottle covers; the range of categories is complete, the shapes attractive, the colors bright, and the craftsmanship exquisite. Besides meeting domestic demand, they have been exported to Singapore, South Korea, Japan, the United States, France, and other countries as well as the Hong Kong and Taiwan regions, with annual sales revenue exceeding 50 million US dollars.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Wang Wenzhong 04-1796
- Jiang Chaochun 05-2655
- Pan Tongli 05-2656
- Yang Jinbang
- Zhang Wanfu
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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