Lanyuxuan Knitting: Intangible Cultural Heritage Passed Down Through Fingertips

Lanyuxuan Knitting:   Intangible Cultural Heritage Passed Down Through Fingertips

澜玉轩绳结编织 指尖上的非遗传承

On August 8, during the foreign exchange exhibition commemorating the 140th Birth Anniversary of General Stilwell in Chongqing, Lanyuxuan knitting, an intangible cultural heritage from Nanchuan District, captivated the interest of Chinese and international attendees. They were attracted by a series of cultural and creative products, which ingeniously incorporate the five unique cultural elements in Jinfo Mountain, including silver fir, bamboo shoots, rhododendron, ginkgo, and Dashu tea. This integration beautifully showcases the charm of Chinese traditional handicrafts. Lanyuxuan knitting has been included in the fourth Chongqing Gifts for Foreign Affairs event. Wang Xiaolan, General Manager of Lanyuxuan and inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage, has received extensive training in the art of knitting, bringing vibrancy to this traditional craftsmanship.

The Art of Knitting as the Connection Between the Past and Present

As recorded in Xi Ci of the Chinese classics Yi Jing, “In the highest antiquity, government was carried on successfully by the use of knotted cords (to preserve the memory of things). In subsequent ages, for these the sages substituted written characters and bonds.” Zheng Xuan, a Chinese philosopher of the Eastern Han Dynasty, also wrote the significant implications of rope knots in his book Annotations of Zhou Yi. The art of knitting in China dates back to ancient times when people used the “rope knot tying” method to record information before the creation of characters by Cang Jie. As a result, knot knitting is imbued with cultural significance, representing contracts and emotions.

Over time, knots gradually transformed into a delicate and elegant form of handicraft. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, knitting flourished with the fusion of court craftsmanship and folk artistry, resulting in remarkable development. This artistic tradition has endured through the ages and continues to thrive today.

Artisans skillfully transform materials such as silk rope, cotton and linen, and wool into various exquisite daily necessities and handicrafts. In modern times, the art of knitting has seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, appearing in various forms such as cheongsam knot buttons, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and more.

 “After years of revolution, knitting has become a refined art form through which people convey good luck, express best wishes, and embody spiritual significance. With its unique Chinese charm and rich variety, knitting showcases the wisdom and culture of the Chinese people and enjoys popularity among international friends,” Wang Xiaolan said.

The Spirit of Dedication in the Art of Knitting

By utilizing knotting, weaving, drawing, and other techniques, Wang Xiaolan skillfully transforms colorful silk threads into a diverse array of shapes, resulting in the creation of exquisite living goods. These goods, including clothing, household accessories, and satchels, possess traditional characteristics and emanate a dedicated spirit.

Wang Xiaolan’s passion for knitting goes beyond mere skill. She strives to blend traditional Chinese knitting with modern life, infusing them with deeper cultural significance. 

 “In 2019, I established Lanyuxuan and initiated a journey of constant learning, exploration, and innovation. I have created carefully designed knitting pieces such as ginkgo leaf-shaped brooches, silver fir-inspired earrings, and bamboo-styled embroidered car pillows. Moreover, I have trained over 100 apprentices for free, imparting my skills and knowledge to nurture the next generation of artisans,” Wang Xiaolan said. 

Over the past  years, Wang Xiaolan and her team have been dedicated to developing new products and exploring overseas markets. Their efforts have earned them numerous accolades. Notably, their “Nanchuan Elements” hand-woven products have won several design awards, including the Environmental Protection Craft Award at the Seventh Western China Tourism Industry Expo and the Silver Award at the China Tourism Commodities Competition. They are also included in the Chongqing Gifts for Foreign Affairs. In addition, their work Jinfoshan Ginkgo Leaf Brooch received the Bronze Award for Tourism Commodities at the fourth Chongqing Gifts and the Bronze Award at the China Tourism Commodities Competition.

Weaving the Dream of Going Global

Promoting Nanchuan District’s knitting art internationally has always been Wang Xiaolan’s goal. In July of this year, Wang Xiaolan and her team warmly welcomed an international student volunteer team in Chongqing to explore the art of knitting. The experience was met with tremendous enthusiasm and interest from the participants. Lanyuxuan actively participated in the China Gifts 2023 activity organized by national government authorities. They also promoted the display of their fine works at the Chongqing Belt and Road Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center, in hopes of finding overseas development opportunities and exploring new market.

Looking toward the future, Wang Xiaolan emphasizes the importance of not only creating knitting products that cater to a wider range of people but also ensuring the continued promotion, development, and innovation of manual knitting. 

Through the Huaxiang Skills Training School subordinate to her company, Wang Xiaolan actively trains students in knitting, with the aim of cultivating more inheritors for the intangible cultural heritage. “This year alone, we have trained 38 students in two semesters. Additionally, we have established an intangible cultural heritage workshop that attracts high-quality students and fosters product innovation and the creation of high-quality goods. Moving forward, we plan to expand marketing efforts and utilize both online and physical platforms to promote our products in overseas markets, spreading Chinese intangible traditional culture worldwide,” Wang Xiaolan said. Lanyuxuan will leverage various exhibitions, competitions, and scenic areas as channels to promote knitting culture, showcase manual knitting skills, and share compelling Chinese stories.

Photo/Interviewee

8月8日，在重庆举行的史迪威将军诞辰140周年纪念活动对外交流展示中，南川区非物质文化遗产澜玉轩绳结编织吸引了中外嘉宾的目光。尤其是其金福系列文创产品，创新融入重庆金佛山银杉、方竹笋、金山杜鹃王、银杏、大树茶“五绝”地域文化，展示了中国传统手工艺的魅力。澜玉轩绳结编织入选第四届“重庆好礼·外事礼品”，澜玉轩总经理、非遗传承人王小兰，练就了绳结编织这项指尖绝活，让传统手艺有了新的活力。

古法绳结连古今

《易经·系辞》记载：“上古结绳而治，后世圣人易之以书目契。”东汉郑玄在《周易注》里写道：“结绳为约，事大，大结其绳；事小，小结其绳。”中国绳结技艺起源于先民“结绳记事”，在仓颉造字前，人类以绳作结，记录数量和事物，赋予了绳结契约、情感等文化内容。

随着时光流转，绳结渐渐演变为一种精巧雅致的手工艺。明清时期，绳结在宫廷手艺与民间手艺不断融合的过程中发展繁荣，绵延流传至今。

绳结技艺以丝绳、棉麻、毛线等为原材料，经艺人的巧手能变幻出各式日用品和工艺品。如今，绳结艺术已经融入了我们的生活，旗袍盘扣、耳饰、挂饰、手链等，随处可见。

“绳结技艺演变至今，已成为人们传递吉祥、祝愿美好，富有精神内涵的精致艺术。以独特的东方神韵、丰富多彩的变化，彰显了中国人的智慧和文化，深受外国朋友的喜爱。”王小兰说。

有温度的绳结艺术

一根根五彩丝线，通过结、穿、绕、缠、编、抽等技法，在王小兰手中“生”出了花、“长”出了型，变成一件件具有浓郁传统特色的服饰、家居饰品、挎包等有温度的生活艺术品。

一直以来，王小兰并不满足于纯粹的编织技能，她尝试将传统中国绳结和现代人的生活结合起来，赋予其更多的文化内涵。

“2019年，我创办了澜玉轩，通过不断学习、研究，创作了绳结编织银杏叶胸针、银杉耳环、方竹车载刺绣枕头等手工艺品。还通过开展技能培训，免费教会百余名学徒。”王小兰说。

近两年来，王小兰和团队不断研发新产品，积极寻求海外发展空间，屡出精品，荣誉也接踵而来。其中，多款“南川元素”手工编织品荣获多项设计奖：“金福麻鞋”荣获笫七届中国西部旅游产业博览会环保工艺奖、全国旅游商品大赛银奖，并入选“重庆好礼·外事礼品”。“金佛山银杏叶胸针”荣获第四届“重庆好礼”旅游商品铜奖、中国旅游商品大赛铜奖。

编织“走出去”梦想

推动南川的绳结艺术走出国门，一直是王小兰努力的方向。今年7月，她和团队邀请在渝外籍留学生志愿服务队体验绳结编织，深受学生们的喜爱和欢迎。今年，澜玉轩绳结编织积极参与2023年商务部征集中国好礼的活动，并推动创作精品入驻重庆“一带一路”商品展示交易中心，寻求海外发展机遇，探索海外市场路径。

谈到未来，王小兰说，不仅要打造人们更加喜爱的编织产品，更要使手工绳结编织不断发扬光大，在保护中发展，在发展中创新。

目前，依托公司旗下的华祥技能培训学校，王小兰积极培训绳结编织学员，竭力培养更多的非遗传承人。“今年培训了两期学员38人。我们打造了一家非遗工坊，吸纳高素质学员，不断创新产品、创作精品。未来，我们还将扩大营销，利用线上线下平台，将产品推向海外市场，把中国非遗传统文化传播到世界各地。”王小兰说，澜玉轩将利用各种会展、大赛、景点等平台宣传绳结编织非遗文化，推广手工绳结编织技艺，讲好中国故事。

图/受访者提供