Miao Batik, One Of The Three Printing Techniques In Ancient China

Batik printing product

Wax printing, called batik in ancient times, together with tie dyeing and hollow printing, was called the three major printing techniques in ancient China. Batik originated in southwest China, which is also an ancient folk traditional printing and dyeing process in China. Among many traditional printing and dyeing handicrafts, with the passage of time, many printing and dyeing processes have been eliminated, and only batik can be carried forward, because many printing and dyeing processes can be produced on a large scale with modern machines, and only batik can be printed by traditional manual methods, which is its charm.

As early as 2000 years ago, during the Qin and Han Dynasties, he lived in Yunnan northeast The ancestors of all ethnic groups in southwest China began to use natural plants and minerals as dyes to dye and print wool, cotton and linen fabrics. In the Tang Dynasty, batik technology was introduced into the Central Plains from the southwest. After the Song Dynasty, the batik technology in the Central Plains gradually declined, while the batik in the southwest still maintained its primitive style, which was inherited from each family's workshop.

Miao batik with a history of more than 2000 years, As early as in the Song Dynasty, it was recorded in "Ximan Comes from Laughing" that "Xidong loves bronze drums more than gold and jade, and takes bronze inscriptions from moulds; prints cloth with wax engraving plates, and stains wax curtains with indigo." In "Answers outside the Mountains", it is recorded that Yao cloth in Guangxi in the Southern Song Dynasty: "The two pieces of wood are carved into fine flowers, which are used to clip cloth. The wax is poured into the wood, and then the cloth is cast into the blue. Once the cloth is blue, it is boiled to remove its wax, so it can be made into extremely fine patchwork, which is impressive." In many prestigious Miao areas, the "Ancient Song of Batik" is widely spread, which is the best witness of the origin of batik. In this Miao area, the origin of batik is more legendary.

It is said that the Miao people were good at singing and dancing and were good at Spinning linen They knead all kinds of flowers and plants in nature into dyes, which are used to dye cloth and dress. There was a smart and beautiful Miao girl who was determined to print and dye the most beautiful cloth in order to make more beautiful clothes, better dress herself and beautify life before getting married. In order to achieve this goal, she studied hard and thought carefully all day long, but could not come up with a better way. Once, when she was out picking flowers, she fell asleep on the grass. Unconsciously, the bees flew all over her skirt and clothes, leaving traces of honey on the girl's dress. After waking up, the girl had to take it to the dye vat and put it into boiling water to fix the color. When the girl took out her dress, a very wonderful pattern appeared, and beautiful patterns appeared where the wax had stained the dress. Inspired by this, the smart girl hurries to find wax juice and paints many patterns on the linen cloth with bamboo pieces. After the wax cools, the girl puts the cloth with wax juice into the paint to dye. The girl's pioneering work was recognized by Miao compatriots, and batik was widely spread and popular among Miao people. Since then, batik has become popular among the Miao people. Every time girls get married, they will sew clothes with their own batik cloth as dowry when they get married.