Tibetan Bangdiankadian Weaving Craftsmanship
01 · Historical Records
As early as the 11th century, in the middle reaches of the Nianchu River (today the area around Bainang County), there was a handmade product called "Wangdan Zhongsi"—that is, the "kadian" (Tibetan carpet). During the Republican period (1912–1949), British merchants once opened small factories and craft schools in Gyantse, and the products were exported to Europe.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The Tibetan wool-weaving craft has a long history, and its products are most famous for aprons and carpets. The woolen apron commonly used by the Tibetan people is called "bangdian" in the Tibetan language and serves decorative and cold-protection functions. Jiedexiu Town in Gonggar County, Shannan region of Tibet, is the principal producing area of Tibetan aprons, and is thus praised as the "hometown of bangdian". Jiedexiu has produced woolen textiles for more than a thousand years, and aprons for five or six hundred years. Historically, the town had numerous shops, every household owned one or more looms, and the pulu (woolen cloth) woven there was a tribute item for successive dynasties; legend has it that the pulu garments worn by Princess Wencheng were produced in this town. Through generations of transmission and improvement, the woolen textiles of Jiedexiu have developed greatly in variety, pattern, color, and technique. The town today has about 780 households and 2,200 people, and nearly every household produces woolen aprons; the products are renowned not only within China but are also exported to India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Western European countries. Gyantse County in the Shigatse region is the famous home of the Tibetan carpet (called "kadian" in Tibetan). Gyantse carpets, together with Turkish and Persian carpets, are counted among the three great carpets of the world. This region has always been a traditional producing area of Tibetan carpets; its weaving technique has developed considerably and has formed a series of patterns. Since then, building on continuous improvement and innovation in the traditional "kadian" handicraft, the people of Gyantse have developed the distinctive Gyantse carpet. Gyantse "kadian" reflects more than a thousand years of development in Tibetan weaving technique. Its patterns, spinning, dyeing, weaving, and carpet-shearing are all outstanding; it is characterized by a unique weaving technique, bright and harmonious colors, and a soft carpet surface, giving it very high artistic value.
The bangdian apron form
The bangdian is a striped woollen apron, worn in front when out and half over one shoulder when receiving guests, and equally decorative and warming.
Beating, weaving and sewing
Wool is beaten to felt, woven into bands on a loom and then joined by hand in felt stitching; the band dimensions determine the size.
The khaden carpet
Made by the same methods as the apron, the khaden is a long striped carpet used for bedding, sitting and saddle pads, often edged with auspicious motifs.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Jiedexiu Town in Gonggar County, Shannan region of Tibet, is the principal producing area of Tibetan aprons, and is thus praised as the "hometown of bangdian"; the town has produced woolen textiles for more than a thousand years, and aprons for five or six hundred. Historically, the town had numerous shops and every household lived by weaving; even today the Gonggar County Bureau of Culture (Bureau of Cultural Relics) maintains a special institution to protect this craft.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Tibetan Bangdiankadian Weaving Craftsmanship.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
These ethnic handicrafts should be protected and passed on. Gesang (per the official records of the associated inheritor): Representative inheritor of the Tibetan bangdian and kadian weaving craft, a first-batch national-level intangible cultural heritage project. Gesang's apron-weaving skill was highly practiced; the aprons he wove were of fine workmanship and excellent quality. The sale of bangdian was the mainstay of Gesang's family livelihood and source of income, and he had registered a separate trademark for the aprons he wove. Male, of Tibetan ethnicity, born in 1956, died in 2011, a native of Gonggar, Tibet.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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