Weaving the past into the present

Nestled in the primeval forests of Hanzhong, Shaanxi province, grows a remarkable vine known for its unmatched flexibility, exceptional length, and a smooth, lustrous surface with superb elasticity.

Since ancient times, locals recognised its potential as a premium natural weaving material, prized for the vine’s lightness, breathability and remarkable durability.

The Records of the Three Kingdoms (220-280) by Western Jin Dynasty (265-316) historian Chen Shou documented its military applications, describing “vine armour” so effective it could float across rivers, repel water, and withstand arrows and blades.

By the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the vine craft enjoyed a wave of industrialisation, as related products were regularly transported through Hanzhong’s waterways and docks.

Rattan weaving matured into a specialised handicraft during the early 20th century, preserving techniques refined through millennia of innovation.

“It is an ancient handicraft that creates functional household items using wooden or bamboo frames as structures and green vines as weaving material, employing traditional weaving techniques,” explains Chen Liangshun, who has practised the craft for more than three decades.

At his company in Huangguan town, Nanzheng district of Hanzhong, villagers have been busy weaving summer products like vine chairs and fans.

“The fans have been particularly popular recently, with online sales easily reaching 1,000 to 2,000 orders daily,” says Chen in his 50s.

Since the age of 7, he was mesmerised by his father’s calloused hands, from which soft rattan vines seemed to come alive, morphing into chairs, baskets, sun hats, and occasionally even a little grasshopper, playfully woven just for him.

He began to realise the value of those unremarkable green rattan growing just outside their home, as his father brought home an envious income through selling rattan-woven chairs.

At the age of 15, he formally made inroads into the craft under the guidance of his father.

The whole process is intricate, involving over 20 steps, including material preparation, frame construction, rattan weaving, polishing and finishing.

After 2-year-old bamboo and rattan are harvested and air-dried in shaded, ventilated areas, they are steamed for hours to kill insect eggs and soften the fibres. Then the materials are peeled, rinsed, sun-dried, and trimmed into usable strips.

Next comes the frame-making stage, where high-quality wood and bamboo are bent into geometric forms using fire-and-water techniques, then fixed with bamboo nails and bound with rope.

The core step is for artisans to weave rattan strands around the frame in a fill-in pattern.

After securing the warp threads, the weft is woven in, incorporating various coloured patterns and finishing with edge-wrapping techniques. Finally, skilled finishers trim excess fibres, apply filler, sand the surface, and add a protective coating to complete the piece.

Though the rattan vines were soft to the touch, they rubbed Chen’s fingers raw. Through rigorous training, it took Chen several years to complete his apprenticeship in 1990, when he began hawking his handmade goods through the streets.

“Seeing my own works turn into real income was really joyful,” he says.

However, in the late 1990s, with the rapid rise of the modern furniture industry, traditional rattan-weaving businesses across Hanzhong began to shut down one after another.

It was his father’s final wish for him to keep the ancestral craft going that enabled him to stay on track.

His persistence eventually won him increasing support from the government. In 2007, Chen established a formal cooperative and later a rattan-weaving company.

As his business experience grew, he realised it’s important to keep up with the times and diversify rattan-woven products. He then travelled to Guangdong, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, drawing inspirations from their diverse rattan-weaving techniques and styles.

To date, his team has rolled out an array of more than 300 rattan products, ranging from furniture and decor to handicrafts for tourists.

In 2021, Hanzhong rattan weaving was named as a national intangible cultural heritage, which made him even more determined to carry forward the craft.

As a leading force behind the craft development, Chen has helped establish a rattan-weaving workshop, which has trained and given employment opportunities to over 3,000 people.