Traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li ethnic group
The traditional spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery skills of the Li ethnic group are a kind of textile skills created by the women of the Li ethnic group in Hainan Province, China. It combines spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidery, and uses materials such as cotton thread, linen thread and other fibers to make clothes and other daily necessities. Li women learn textile skills such as tie-dyed warp cloth, double-sided embroidery and single-sided jacquard weaving from their mothers since childhood. Mothers pass on skills through oral transmission. Li women design textile patterns based solely on their rich imagination and understanding of traditional styles. In the absence of written language, these patterns have become records of the history, cultural legends, religious rituals, taboos, beliefs, traditions and folk customs of the Li ethnic group. These patterns also distinguish the five major dialects of Hainan Island. Li brocade is an indispensable part of important social and cultural occasions of the Li ethnic group, such as some religious ceremonies and various festivals, especially weddings. On these important days, Li women will design clothes for themselves. As a carrier of Li culture, the traditional textile skills of Li brocade are an indispensable part of the cultural heritage of the Li ethnic group. However, in recent decades, the number of women who have mastered weaving and embroidery skills has decreased dramatically, and the traditional weaving skills of Li brocade are on the verge of extinction and are in urgent need of protection.