High-end Handcrafted Swallow Field Anise Pattern Chinese Blue white Zhuang Brocade Silk Cloth Scarf Tea Table Cloth

What's Zhuang Brocade 壮锦？

The Zhuang people have a very ancient history, having lived for generations in parts of Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hunan in southwestern China. Zhuang brocade, also known as "Zhuang brocade" or "velvet quilt," is relatively thick and is considered one of China's four famous brocades, a treasure of Guangxi's ethnic culture.

Intangible cultural heritage preservation: In 2006, Zhuang brocade craftsmanship was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Zhuang brocade is an art form skillfully woven on a hand-operated loom equipped with a support system, transmission device, heddle system, and jacquard weaving device. It uses cotton yarn as warp and various colored silk velvets as weft, employing a technique of continuous warp and discontinuous weft weaving.

The traditional patterns mainly include more than 20 types such as two dragons playing with a pearl, meander pattern, water pattern, cloud pattern, flowers, and animals. More than 80 new patterns such as "Guilin landscape" and "national unity" have also emerged, which are rich in national style.

（Swallow pattern)

In Zhuang folklore, swallows have always been beloved auspicious birds, making their appearance in Zhuang brocade particularly significant.

From a practical perspective, swallows are messengers of the seasons. Every spring, they fly thousands of miles from the south back to Zhuang, announcing the return of warmth and vitality. When people see swallows, they know that the planting season has arrived, the fields will soon be covered in green, and life will usher in new hope. Therefore, in Zhuang brocade, swallows symbolize spring, representing new beginnings, new opportunities, and a life full of vitality and hope.

Field Pattern /Anise Flower Pattern

Pattern Inspiration: The Zhuang people's understanding of fields and the heavens and earth as reflected in Longzhou Zhuang brocade.

Pattern Design: These three sets of geometric patterns showcase the Zhuang people's faith in the sun and their reverence for the land from two dimensions. They intertwine to create a magnificent pastoral scene. The pattern uses the sun ray pattern as the central motif, with the "field" and "swirl" patterns as auxiliary patterns, symbolizing the harmonious coexistence between the Zhuang people and the heavens and earth, praying for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and aspirations for a prosperous, thriving, and happy future.

Anise Flower Pattern

Meaning: The Anise pattern in Zhuang brocade symbolizes the worship of the sun. The Anise pattern is often used in Zhuang brocade to represent the sun, symbolizing reverence for it. The design inspiration for this pattern comes from the Zhuang people's observation and understanding of nature, reflecting their awe and respect for the sun as a natural phenomenon. The shape of the Anise pattern is similar to the radiating pattern of the sun, thus representing light and warmth.

Two sides available to use/wear

Zhuang Brocade Process

Warp preparation → warping → reed threading → combing and winding warp → loom setup → separating small heddles → separating large heddles/threading jacquard heddles → reed threading → weaving the selvage → picking patterns and knotting the base → feeding the warp and opening the weft opening → picking patterns (color matching) → shuttle running → weft insertion.

A traditional colored Zhuang brocade with a width of 50cm and a length of 180cm, of moderate difficulty, takes about 160 hours to complete. The weaving time for Zhuang brocade of medium difficulty is doubled, and the time for Zhuang brocade with multiple colors is even longer.

Material: 50% silke ,50% cotton

Size: 180cm, 40cm( it can be a bit varied one from one)

Maintenance: Please wash it by hand with silk detergent. The silk is very precious, and please pay attention while using avoid snagging. 

Reminder: as it's 100% handmade by hand-operated loom, the patterns are very varied, for the big pattern, the cloth can be so substantial like machine make. 

P.S Please provide your phone number when placing an order. This is very important when shipping the package. I appreciate any help you can provide.