chinese batik
Chinese batik is one of three types of ancient handicrafts that involve creating multicolored and multi-patterned textiles. One of these methods happens to be wax printing or batik. It is believed that it existed as early as 221-207 BC and that it become widespread during the Silk Road period as a product created for export to Europe.
This method is similar to the Javanese method in that hot wax is applied to the fabric in order to create a resist pattern. Like the Javanese the patterns used by the Chinese people are highly symbolic with different patterns being used for different items of clothing and occasions. Common motifs for this type of fabric include dragons, phoenixes and flowers.
While production used to be widespread throughout the country, it has dwindled in popularity so much so that there are only two communities that still create this type of fabric. They are the Zhuang and Miao ethnic groups who live in small enclaves in the provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan and Yunnan.
This method is similar to the Javanese method in that hot wax is applied to the fabric in order to create a resist pattern. Like the Javanese the patterns used by the Chinese people are highly symbolic with different patterns being used for different items of clothing and occasions. Common motifs for this type of fabric include dragons, phoenixes and flowers.
While production used to be widespread throughout the country, it has dwindled in popularity so much so that there are only two communities that still create this type of fabric. They are the Zhuang and Miao ethnic groups who live in small enclaves in the provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan and Yunnan.
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The method which the Miao use to create fabric for their traditional costumes involves creating specially weaved cotton or hemp cloth on which hot wax is applied and the cloth is then dipped into indigo dye. The Zhuang use a similar method by creating cloth that is first bleached to create a white background. Hot wax is then applied in the shape of a flower blossom and, like the Miao, the Zhuang then dye the fabric a deep blue color. The Zhuang prefer to use only the flower blossom motif in their work, while the Miao work with several different motifs as mentioned above.
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Both ethnic groups create this type of fabric, not only for their own personal use, but also as a source of income through sales to tourists.
