Jilin family preserves ancient knotting art

Xu Xiaoxue said she requires nothing but a single thread to connect the world with China and its intangible cultural heritage. Her skillful hands can create exquisite Chinese knots by meticulously intertwining a single thread and some beads, exhibiting a rare display of intangible cultural heritage to the world.

Hailing from Jilin province, Xu, 41, said: "I will never forget the words of my mother-in-law. When I started learning the knotting skills, she told me that knotting embodies people's hopes for life."

Her husband's family is in the business of making the decorative art that dates back to ancient times when people tied knots to record events. According to her, the tradition of the family's skills in knot tying can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Xu started to learn the craft of creating Chinese knots from her mother-in-law, Yu Hongyan, in 2005. As a third-generation inheritor of the provincial intangible cultural heritage of knotting in Jilin, Yu was proficient in various folk crafts such as knot tying, straw weaving and willow weaving and had her own unique understanding of knotting art.

Under Yu's guidance, Xu gradually mastered various techniques such as flower knotting, rope knotting and straw weaving, becoming the fourth generation inheritor.

To rejuvenate the traditional art, Xu constantly explored innovative techniques. She continued to innovate and create hand-knotted rope products that cater to contemporary aesthetic demands.

"Artistic innovation knows no bounds," she said. "As knotting craftsmanship has entered a new era, I hope to actively develop new products that not only showcase exquisite traditional folk craftsmanship but are also accepted and recognized by the market."

Building upon her mastery of over 500 traditional flower knotting art, she has rediscovered over 50 ancient techniques and developed more than 30 new ones.

Xu has also made innovations in the selection of materials and color combinations, making her rope knotting handicrafts more dynamic and vibrant. "Traditional Chinese knotting primarily uses materials such as hemp, cotton and polyester cotton threads," she said.

"In addition to these traditional materials, I have developed some new environmentally friendly materials suitable for contemporary trends."