Chinese knotting, also known as (), is a Chinese folk art with ties to Buddhism and Taoism. A Chinese knot is made from a single length of cord that is woven into different shapes, with each shape having a symbolic meaning. The most common color used in Chinese knotting is red, a color associated with luck in Chinese culture, although any color can be used. Charms, beads, and jade are sometimes incorporated into a Chinese knot. It is believed that Chinese knotting originated for recording information and exchanging messages before writing was commonplace. Traditionally, Chinese knots acted as good-luck charms to ward off evil spirits. Chinese knots are used today to decorate homes during festivities and are also commonly seen in traditional jade jewellery and traditional Chinese clothing.
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|+Types of Chinese knots The practice had some similarities to the Incan practice of quipu. Several works of classical Chinese literature make reference to it. The Tao Te Ching (ca. 400 BCE) alludes to the practice in chapter 80. As translated by Wing-tsit Chan:
The Yi Jing, Xi Ci II (ca. 168 BCE), describes the practice:
The Eastern Han (25–220 CE) scholar Zheng Xuan, who annotated the , wrote that:
Ancient totem
thumb|Mawangdui silk banner from tomb no1|alt=Mawangdui silk banner from tomb no1.jpg|396x396px
In addition to their use in recording, knots became a totem and belief motif. A double coin knot pattern painting on a silk banner was discovered by archaeologists in the Mawangdui tombs (206 BCE – CE 9). The pattern is of intertwined dragons forming a double coin knot in the middle of the fabric painting. The upper part of the fabric painting depicts the ancient deities Fuxi and Nüwa, the initiators of marriage in China, from whom many ancient poems derive "love" as a meaning of the double coin knot.
Knots gradually evolved into a distinct decorative art in China, beginning with the use of ribbon knotting and decorative knots on clothing during the Spring and Autumn period. This is attested in the , where it is written that:
Chinese knotting was thus derived from the culture. The Chinese word Lào is an ancient Chinese term for knots, and it was customary to tie a knot at the waist with silk or cotton ribbon. Other ancient poems used the Concentric knot to portray love, such as Luo Binwang's poem:
It was also mentioned in a poem written by Huang Tingjian:
The most famous poem about the Love knot was written by Meng Jiao in ( – ).
The phenomenon of knot-tying continued to steadily evolve over thousands of years with the development of more sophisticated techniques and increasingly intricate woven patterns. During the Song and Yuan dynasties (960–1368), the Pan Chang knot, today's most recognizable Chinese knot, became popular. Much artwork evidence has also shown the knots as clothing decoration during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644); for instance, in Tang Yin's artwork, a knotting ribbon is clearly shown.
Qing dynasty
During the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Chinese knotting evolved from folklore to an acceptable art form in Chinese society. The Lào zi culture again became popular during the Qing dynasty. During that time, basic knots were widely used to embellish everyday objects such as , sachets, purses, fan tassels, spectacle cases, and rosaries, and the single knot technique was extended into complicated knots.
According to the Chinese classical novel Dream of the Red Chamber, the Lào zi was developed and spread between the middle and upper nobility, who used Lào zi as a way to express love and luck between family members, lovers, and friends. It was also a form of honorable craftsmanship studied and created by maids in the Imperial Palace. As written in the (), when knotting, the maids of Ci Xi were able to quickly produce many different knots.
Republic of China
There was little development of knotting during the Republic of China (1912–1949). Simpler knots were popular, for example the pan kou, which had been developed before the Qing dynasty, used knot button ornaments designed particularly for the cheongsam in this period.
20th and 21st centuries
thumb|Variety of pan kou typically used as a fastener for the [[cheongsam|211x211px]]
Knowledge and interest in Chinese knotting had declined considerably by the 1970s, when Lydia Chen helped bring about a renewal of interest in the art form through the Chinese Knotting Promotion Center. Chinese knotting has since become a popular symbol and souvenir in festivals and commodity markets.
Influences and derivatives
Japan
thumb|An agemaki knotThe knot-tying tradition in Japan is called , a term composed of the words , meaning "flower", and , meaning "knot".
A wall painting from 357 CE found in Anak, Hwanghae Province, now in North Korea, indicates that silk was the primary medium at the time. Decorative cording was used on silk dresses, to ornament swords, to hang personal items from belts for the aristocracy, and in rituals, where it continues now in contemporary wedding ceremonies. Korean knotwork is differentiated from Korean embroidery. is still a commonly practiced traditional art, especially among the older generations.
The most basic knot in is called the (or the double connection knot). The knot is used at the start and end of most knot projects. There are approximately 33 basic Korean knots which vary according to the region they come from.