Fun with chinese Knotting (Berkeiey)01 Resurg of Ch Knot (4-26)FIN_ 11/16/06 10:44 AM Page 9
9TBChinese knots (and tassels) have tra-
ditionally been used to decorate
accessories and artifacts such as jade,
fans, wind chimes and lanterns. Tied
by family or friends, they have also
long been used as colorful hangings
on festive occasions or during impor-
tant rites of passage such as weddings.
The knots themselves were never con-
sidered to have much artistic value
and little attention was paid to how
they were made. They were simply
there and taken for granted!
Yet, when we look closely at
Chinese knots, we find that each is an
extremely systematic, intricate and
delicate item, the fine details reflect-
ing the very thoughts, feelings and
artistry of the ancient Chinese women
who made them. Only then do we see
that knotting is an art in itself.
Once we acknowledge the artistic
merit of knots, we can break away
from the concept of a knot being
merely an accessory to enhance the
elegance of some other, main object.
We can make it the main focus of
attention and embellish it with other
ornaments. In this way, the design of
Chinese knots offers infinite creative
possibilities.
But to design a simple or com-
pound knot and to explore its poten-
tial, one must first of all have a sound
knowledge of the basic skills of knot-
ting. One also needs to have a knowl-
edge of such fundamentals as the
choice of format, the most suitable
colors, the most appropriate cord
materials and the best embellish-
ments. This chapter provides the basic
skills necessary to help readers design
and apply their own knots and also
gives handy tips on knotting.Designing Chinese Knots
Introduce elements from modern art into Chinese knot-
ting. Here, multiple colored cords add fresh appeal to
the inherent beauty of traditional forms, injecting a new
dimension into the art. Colors outside the normal spec-
trum – gold, silver, black and white – used in combination
with the basic seven colors can produce dazzling results.