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
The branch of the Majiang Yao is concentrated in Heba Village, Longshan Township, spreading in clusters across a total of 18 natural villages together with parts of Ganqiao and Yangtang villages. The oil is entirely prepared from natural maple-tree oil and butter, and dotting flowers with the brush tip has strong penetrability on the cloth; dipped into indigo it becomes a blue-green ground with reserved white flowers, the patterns plain and dignified, standing alongside the relatively fresh style of the Huishui Buyei. Yang Wanren entered the trade at 18 following his father, and has now passed the craft on to his children and surrounding villagers.
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 Wanren (per official archival records of the associated inheritor): male, Yao ethnicity, born in July 1949, from Majiang County, Guizhou Province. Representative inheritor of the Fengxiang printing and dyeing craft, a national-level intangible cultural heritage project of the fifth batch. Fengxiang printing and dyeing technician. He learned the Fengxiang printing and dyeing production craft from his father at the age of 18, gradually mastering the entire craft process; his drawn and dotted patterns are clear, plain, and dignified, with strong color contrast, smooth brushwork lines, and self-contained finished products, which have been collected by several institutions and private collectors. In recent years, he has carefully taught the craft to his children and surrounding villagers, leading local people to prosperity together.
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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