There Will Be More New "Techniques" For The Inheritance And Development Of The Traditional Textile, Dyeing, Weaving And Embroidery Skills Of The Li Nationality

"All the persistence and dedication have turned into precious cultural symbols, which have been seen and respected by the world." It was said that the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality were included in the list of representative works of human intangible cultural heritage, and Fumeizi, the "post-90s" Zhiniang, sighed with emotion. It is expected that in the future, there will be more new "techniques" for the inheritance and development of the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality.

The 19th ordinary session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO held in Asuncion, Paraguay passed the review on the 5th, and decided to transfer the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality from the list of intangible cultural heritage in urgent need of protection to the list of representative works of intangible cultural heritage of mankind. This news quickly "brushed the screen" in Hainan.

The picture shows Liu Xianglan, the inheritor of the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality, displaying Li brocade. (Courtesy of Hainan Provincial Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports Department)

According to Luo Wenxiong, the curator of Hainan Provincial Museum of Nationalities, the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality have been passed down for more than 3000 years, and have been passed down to the present by generations of Li women without any written records, demonstrating the recognition and utilization of plant characteristics by Li people in their long life on tropical islands. Li people collect island cotton, fire rope hemp and other plants from local materials, and use spindle, spinning wheel and other tools to spin into thread by hand; Then use plants, animals and minerals to make dyes to soak, boil and dye the lines; Next, we conceived various patterns such as sun and moon patterns, flower and bird patterns, animal patterns, and overall composition and color matching, and used waist looms and warp and weft returning techniques to weave beautiful Li brocade; Finally, the patterns on the Li brocade are brightened by embroidery to make the colors more beautiful and the patterns more three-dimensional. According to research statistics, there are 164 patterns of Li brocade.

The inheritance of the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality was once in trouble. In 2009, the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality were included in the list of intangible cultural heritage in urgent need of protection by UNESCO. At that time, there were less than 1000 inheritors in Hainan who mastered this skill, and most of them were over 70 years old.

After that, Hainan carried out a lot of census and preservation work to promote the inheritance and development of the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality from various aspects. For example, improve the living conditions of inheritors and let representative inheritors teach students; Build Lijin skill inheritance village and set up inheritance institute; Carry out "Intangible Cultural Heritage into Campus", "Research and Training Plan", and establish traditional craft workstations. More than 100 primary and secondary schools in Hainan have carried out this skill practice class. Five 300 square meter Lijin skill learning halls and 16 inheritance villages have been built in Ledong, Lingshui, Changjiang, Baoting and other places. Today, there are more than 20000 inheritors of the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality.

At the same time, Hainan continues to promote Lijin to the international stage: original clothes of Lijin elements appear at Paris Fashion Week; Cooperate with international fashion designers to make Lijin cross border "go to sea"; Invite fashion instructors from Italian Marangoni College to train "Weaver Mother"; Go to Britain, Italy, South Korea, Japan and other countries to carry out Lijin culture exhibition and performance

Now, Fu Meizi and other new generations of Li brocade weavers also use social media to spread Li brocade weaving and cultural innovation research and development, and let more people enjoy the subtlety of Li brocade through digital display and online teaching platform.

On November 28, Li girls in Dongfang City, Hainan Province were weaving Li brocade. Photographed by Zhang Qianyi, a reporter of China News Service

"The traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality will usher in new inheritance and development." Jiao Yongqin, a professor at the Humanities College of Hainan University who is engaged in the research of Li culture, said that the change of the directory will bring many positive impacts, help to enhance global awareness and respect for the diversity of human intangible cultural heritage, and promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning. The traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality need to innovate more "techniques" if they want to create a new "beautiful".

At present, Hainan is preparing the Five Year Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Traditional Textile, Dyeing, Weaving and Embroidery Skills of the Li Ethnic Group (2025 – 2029), improving the protection and inheritance system, and promoting the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li ethnic group to a larger stage through brand promotion, technology innovation, exchange and training and other measures.

The relevant person in charge of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province said that after the traditional textile, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li nationality were listed as the representative works of the intangible cultural heritage of mankind, they will tell the Chinese story of cultural heritage protection, harmonious coexistence between human and nature, national unity and integration, ecological environment protection, and rural revitalization through promoting exchanges and dialogues, so as to promote other intangible cultural heritage projects around the world The protection and inheritance of folk skills can provide reference.

(Source: China News Network)