Straw weaving (Muchuan grass dragon)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: caolong (Muchuan caolong)

Applicant: Muchuan County, Sichuan Province

Project No.: 830

Project No.: Ⅶ - 54

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Sichuan Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Muchuan County, Sichuan Province

Protection unit: Muchuan County Cultural Center

Introduction to straw weaving (Muchuan grass dragon)

Applicant: Muchuan County, Sichuan Province

Straw weaving is a traditional weaving craft with herbs as the main raw materials. As one of the oldest skills of human beings, as early as in ancient times, weaving has become an important means for Chinese ancestors to make practical goods. Straw weaving has been popular among Chinese people for thousands of years, and has been carried forward in this process. Folk craftsmen all over the country made full use of the flexible stems, skins, cores, leaves and roots of herbaceous plants to create and summarize rich weaving techniques such as weaving, tying, braiding, buckling, tying, twisting, winding, netting, stringing and plate, making straw weaving an important source of daily necessities for the general public. China is rich in herbaceous plant resources, and there are many suitable raw materials for weaving in the north and south, so there are many kinds of straw weaving in different places, and each has its own local characteristics. Straw products are mainly made of straw mat, straw curtain, straw mat, straw basket, straw fan, straw hat, straw shoes and other practical goods, and some are also used as ornaments for display. Since 1840s, straw weaving has been sold abroad. Since the middle of the 20th century, due to the needs of modern life, straw weaving has developed rapidly, with more and more varieties. As a very popular traditional handicraft among Chinese people, straw weaving has a broad mass base and strong practicability and artistry.

Muchuan grass dragon, also known as "Yellow Dragon", is a popular folk grass binding technique in Muchuan County, Leshan City, Sichuan Province. Muchuan grass dragon has a long history. It is said that its origin is related to the history of sleeping on straw before Emperor Taizong ascended the throne. Later generations regard the dragon lantern woven with straw as a symbol of auspiciousness, dancing and playing in public to pray for good weather and bumper harvest in the coming year. The weaving material of Muchuan caolong is the top grade selected from the rice straw harvested in that year. It is golden in color and has no spots on the stalk. The binding process of caolong is very complicated. The whole process involves more than ten techniques, such as knitting, weaving, inlaying, winding and wrapping. The shape of Muchuan grass dragon is exquisite. The design of dragon head, dragon body and dragon tail is particularly exquisite. The details of longan, Longxu, Longjiao, longscale and longclaw are handled vividly. The dance is magnificent. The dragon dancers are well-trained and strong men. At that time, with painted face, bare upper arm, straw hat, straw shoulder, straw skirt, straw leggings and straw sandals, they will dance enthusiastically in accordance with the traditional program accompanied by the music of gongs and drums. They will show the exquisite, wonderful, strange and divine style of Muchuan grass dragon incisively and vividly.