Maple printing and dyeing technology

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Liquidambar formosana printing and dyeing skills

Applicant: Huishui County, Guizhou Province

Item No.: 891

Project No.: VIII - 108

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Guizhou Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Huishui County, Guizhou Province

Protection unit: Huishui Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center

Introduction to the printing and dyeing technology of Liquidambar formosana

Applicant: Huishui County, Guizhou Province

Maple printing and dyeing is a unique folk handicraft. The technological process is to add proper amount of butter into the old Liquidambar resin, and then filter it to form Liquidambar oil after simmering. Then dip the Liquidambar oil into the brush, and draw the pattern on the self-woven white cloth, then dip it with indigo, remove the grease with boiling water, rinse it with water, dry it in the sun, and grind it flat. The printing and dyeing of Liquidambar formosana in Guizhou Province are mainly concentrated in Majiang county and Huishui county.

The maple printing and dyeing skills of Yao people in Majiang county are mainly spread in 18 natural villages, mainly in Heba village, Longshan Township, Majiang County, and also in some villages of ganqiao and Yangtang villages nearby. It is recorded in many local chronicles of the Qing Dynasty. In the process of maple printing and dyeing of Yao nationality in Majiang County, the technique and materials are self-contained, and they are very particular. All the materials used are from Natural Maple oil and butter. The prepared oil can be used to plot on the cloth, which has strong penetration. After air drying, the texture is soft, the pattern is clear, and the color contrast is strong. Products are mainly used for clothing, strap, quilt cover, etc. The Yao people have language but no words. The printing and dyeing skills of Liquidambar formosana depend on oral teaching. The printing and dyeing patterns carry the historical changes, living conditions, folk customs and other humanistic information of the Yao people, and have precious national history, folklore and aesthetic research value.

The Fengxiang printing and dyeing skill of Huishui county is spread in the South East of Huishui county. The inheritors are mainly Buyi people. It has a history of more than 150 years. Printing and dyeing products are mainly used for cutting bed sheets, quilt covers, curtain edges, clothing, etc. The design of Fengxiang printing and dyeing in Huishui county is fresh and bright, with fine pictures, auspicious implication and unique style. Its blue, blue and white patterns contain profound national cultural connotation.

However, the production of Liquidambar printing and dyeing technology is labor-consuming and time-consuming. At the same time, most young people advocate fashion and do not like traditional printing and dyeing products, which leads to the sharp decline of Liquidambar printing and dyeing. At present, there are only 10 people in Heba village, Longshan Township, Majiang County who have mastered the printing and dyeing skills of Liquidambar formosana, and only 2 people are actually engaged in dyeing. There is no successor in the printing and dyeing technology of Liquidambar formosana, so it is urgent to protect it.