UNESCO
CULTURAL HERITAGE
The traditional Li textile techniques of
spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering are employed by women of the Li
ethnic group of Hainan Province,
China, to make
cotton, hemp and other fibres into clothing and other daily necessities. The
techniques involved, including warp ikat, double-face embroidery, and
single-face jacquard weaving, are passed down from mothers to daughters from
early childhood through verbal instruction and personal demonstration. Li women
design the textile patterns using only their imagination and knowledge of
traditional styles. In the absence of a written language, these patterns record
the history and legends of Li culture as well as aspects of worship, taboos, beliefs,
traditions and folkways. The patterns also distinguish the five major spoken
dialects of Hainan
Island. The textiles form
an indispensable part of important social and cultural occasions such as
religious rituals and festivals, and in particular weddings, for which Li women
design their own dresses. As carriers of Li culture, traditional Li textile techniques
are an indispensable part of the cultural heritage of the Li ethnic group. However,
in recent decades the numbers of women with the weaving and embroidery skills
at their command has severely declined to the extent that traditional Li
textile techniques are exposed to the risk of extinction and are in urgent
need of protection.
Inscribed in 2009 (4.COM) on the List of Intangible
Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding
© Text UNESCO, Images: Hainan Province