Believe it or knot: these gifts bring glad tidings
By Liao Fangzhou |
February 23, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ZHUANG Xiuzhen, 78, sent Spring Festival greetings using the ancient folk craft of Chinese knots.
The Minhang resident used red cord to fashion intricate networks of knots, or zhongguo jie - a craft honed by centuries of tradition.
"To send people Chinese knots is to send wishes for happiness and good fortune," she said.
Normally Zhuang's knotwork involves 80-centimeter long cords, but for the Lunar New Year this month, she used lengths of up to 6 meters.
"The patterns I make," Zhuang said of her creations, "cannot be found on the Internet or in books."
Her artwork normally is used in bag and automobile décor, but she has started expanding into earrings and bracelets, adding beads to her creations.
Zhuang first became enamoured of knot work during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, when she viewed an exhibit of the folk craft at the Chinese Pavilion.
She seemed to pick it up effortlessly, displaying a rare talent.
Zhuang did take a class at a community center, but she soon surpassed the skills of her teacher.
Having learned the basics, Zhuang went on to design her own creations.
She was most surprised to see a Chinese know almost identical to one of her creations among the items carried on the Shenzhou IX, China's manned spacecraft flight, last year.
"That really boosted my confidence," she said. "I felt as if I had contributed something to the project."
For now, the recipients of her craftwork are more earthbound. She gives pieces of her Chinese knot work to friends and family.
Over the past three years, Zhang estimates she has made 500 Chinese knots creations.
"Most of my creations have already been given away," she said, with pride.
To celebrate the Year of the Snake, she sent two 1-meter-tall Chinese knot creations to her neighbourhood committee.
The Minhang resident used red cord to fashion intricate networks of knots, or zhongguo jie - a craft honed by centuries of tradition.
"To send people Chinese knots is to send wishes for happiness and good fortune," she said.
Normally Zhuang's knotwork involves 80-centimeter long cords, but for the Lunar New Year this month, she used lengths of up to 6 meters.
"The patterns I make," Zhuang said of her creations, "cannot be found on the Internet or in books."
Her artwork normally is used in bag and automobile décor, but she has started expanding into earrings and bracelets, adding beads to her creations.
Zhuang first became enamoured of knot work during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, when she viewed an exhibit of the folk craft at the Chinese Pavilion.
She seemed to pick it up effortlessly, displaying a rare talent.
Zhuang did take a class at a community center, but she soon surpassed the skills of her teacher.
Having learned the basics, Zhuang went on to design her own creations.
She was most surprised to see a Chinese know almost identical to one of her creations among the items carried on the Shenzhou IX, China's manned spacecraft flight, last year.
"That really boosted my confidence," she said. "I felt as if I had contributed something to the project."
For now, the recipients of her craftwork are more earthbound. She gives pieces of her Chinese knot work to friends and family.
Over the past three years, Zhang estimates she has made 500 Chinese knots creations.
"Most of my creations have already been given away," she said, with pride.
To celebrate the Year of the Snake, she sent two 1-meter-tall Chinese knot creations to her neighbourhood committee.
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