Fengxiang Printing and Dyeing Craftsmanship
01 · Historical Records
Numerous local gazetteers of the Qing dynasty all record this.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Fengxiang printing and dyeing is a unique folk handcraft. Its craft process is as follows: first add an appropriate amount of butter to aged maple-resin, simmer over a low flame, then filter to form maple oil; then use a writing brush dipped in the instantly melted maple oil to draw patterns on self-woven white cloth, then dip-dye it in indigo, remove the grease with boiling water, rinse with clean water, dry in the sun, and flatten by pressing. Fengxiang printing and dyeing in Guizhou Province is mainly concentrated in Majiang County and Huishui County of Guizhou Province. The Yao ethnic group's Fengxiang printing and dyeing craft of Majiang County is mainly transmitted among 18 natural villages centered on Heba Village, Longshan Township, Majiang County, and also spreads in parts of the neighboring Ganqiao and Yangtang villages. In the Yao Fengxiang printing and dyeing of Majiang County, the technique and materials form a self-contained system and are extremely meticulous; all materials used are taken from natural maple-tree oil and butter, and the prepared oil is used to draw and dot flowers on the cloth—with strong penetrability, the dried cloth is soft in texture, the patterns clear, and the color contrast strong. The products are mainly used for clothing, baby carriers, and quilt covers, etc. The Fengxiang printing and dyeing craft of Huishui County spreads in the southeast of Huishui County seat, transmitted mainly by the Buyei (Bouyei) people, and has a history of over 150 years to this day. The dyed finished products are mainly used to make bed sheets, quilt covers, bed-curtain hems, garments, etc. The Fengxiang printing and dyeing of Huishui County has fresh, bright, and lively patterns, fine and delicate images, and auspicious motifs, with a unique style; its blue-green, indigo, and white patterns embody profound ethnic cultural connotations. At present, in Heba Village, Longshan Township, Majiang County, only 10 people master the Fengxiang printing and dyeing craft, and only 2 dyers actually practice it.
Recorded Process Steps
Its craft process is as follows: first add an appropriate amount of butter to aged maple-resin, simmer over a low flame, then filter to form maple oil; then use a writing brush dipped in the instantly melted maple oil to draw patterns on self-woven white cloth, then dip-dye it in indigo, remove the grease with boiling water, rinse with clean water, dry in the sun, and flatten by pressing.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Fengxiang printing and dyeing has two footings in the central Guizhou area: the Huishui branch, transmitted mainly by the Buyei, prevails in the southeast of the county seat and has a history of over 150 years, with clear and lucid patterns; the cloth dyed is mostly cut into bed sheets, quilt covers, and bed-curtain hems. The Majiang branch is mainly Yao, centered around Heba Village in Longshan Township. The two places share the old method of mixing maple resin with butter to boil the oil, brush-drawing, and indigo dip-dyeing; the difference lies in patterns and markets.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Fengxiang Printing and Dyeing Craftsmanship.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The Yao people have a language but no written script; the Fengxiang printing and dyeing craft is passed on entirely by word of mouth and from heart to heart. The printed and dyed patterns carry the Yao people's historical changes, living conditions, folk customs, and other humanistic information, possessing precious value for research in ethnic history, folklore, and aesthetics. However, the Fengxiang printing and dyeing craft is laborious and time-consuming to produce; at the same time, most young people nowadays admire fashion and do not like traditional dyed products, causing Fengxiang printing and dyeing to decline sharply. The Fengxiang printing and dyeing craft is short of successors, and protection work is extremely urgent. Yang Guangcheng (per official archival records of the associated inheritor): male, Buyei ethnicity, born in May 1953, from Huishui County, Guizhou Province. Representative inheritor of the Fengxiang printing and dyeing craft, a national-level intangible cultural heritage project of the fourth batch. To promote the transmission and development of Fengxiang printing and dyeing, he opened an interest class in ethnic folk crafts at the local primary school, teaching the Fengxiang printing and dyeing production craft; he also selected two slightly-skilled young people from each household in his village and gave them Fengxiang printing and dyeing instruction every Wednesday evening. He also established a Fengxiang printing and dyeing farmers' professional cooperative, driving fellow villagers to prosper together through production, circulation, sales, and other means.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Yang Guangcheng 04-1880
- Yang Wanren 05-2805
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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