Lanyuxuan Knitting: Intangible Cultural Heritage Passed Down Through Fingertips

Yang Yan

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