The Weaving Ancestors to Make New Contributions

Development History of Li Textile Craft

Historical Status and Influence

The Li nationality boasts a time-honored and splendid tradition of folk handicrafts. As early as the Tang and Song dynasties, their cotton spinning and weaving techniques were more advanced than those in the Central Plains.

In the early Yuan Dynasty, the famous ancient Chinese craft innovator Huang Daopo traveled to Yazhou to learn the Li people’s spinning and weaving skills. She later spread these techniques to the Yangtze River Basin, greatly boosting the development of cotton textile craftsmanship across the Central Plains. Her contributions earned her a lasting place in history.

Overall Features of Li Textiles

Though the Li people use simple textile tools, their handcrafted products enjoy a high reputation both at home and overseas. Among all craftworks, two-sided embroidery stands out as a representative art. It is widely applied as decorative ornamentation on garments, including side panels and back sections of clothes. To highlight embroidered patterns, artisans often stitch colored threads along the edges. Every design is exquisitely and neatly embroidered.

Embroidery Patterns, Colors and Ornaments

Pattern Selection

Li embroidery draws creative inspiration from daily life, with motifs mainly featuring human figures, animals, plants and geometric patterns.

Color Matching

Red, yellow and white are the most commonly used colors in the craft.

Auxiliary Decorations

Women’s kerchiefs, jackets and skirts are embellished with diverse accessories: gold and silver foils, mica chips and feathers. Shells, beaded strings, copper coins, bronze bells and tassels are also widely used for decoration, creating striking visual and auditory effects.

Inheritance and Protection in Modern Times

Since China launched the reform and opening-up policy, efforts have been made to carry forward and revitalize traditional Li craft techniques. A Li Brocade Research Institute has been established in Wuzhishan City, formerly known as Tongshi City.