Hainan Through My Eyes ⑥ | Tang Qiuchen: Reviving the Local Li Brocade Weaving Tradition

By / HIMC / Updated: 21:46,10-November-2022

Editor's notes:

In the past decade, especially since the construction of the Free Trade Port began, Hainan has gradually developed into one of China's most open and dynamic regions. Dreamchasers from around the world have rushed to this beautiful island, the heart of China's reform and opening up in the new era, in the pursuit of their dreams and giving their lives value.

HIMC is launching the bilingual micro-documentary series "Hainan in the past decade: This is the FTP". In the series, HIMC's team of presenters and "overseas communication officers" interview ten ordinary young people about their extraordinary journeys working in different fields within the Hainan Free Trade Port as they recount the youthful dreams that motivated them along the way. ——Wu Bing, a Chinese-American who came back from the United States to start a business and introduced dozens of overseas projects to Hainan; Huang Yingying, a surfing supreme who chases dreams on the cusp of every wave; and Pan Dailin, whose masterful performances of Hainan Opera have given Hainan a voice on the global stage... The story behind the struggles of each of these young hopefuls is the story of Hainan, and it in turn gives hope to other young people looking to chase their dreams in the Hainan Free Trade Port.

We hope that through this series, you will learn more about the Hainan Free Trade Port and the power of youth.

Tang Qiuchen showing Inira some sea island cotton, the raw material used in making Li Brocade. (Photo / Chen Mingwen, HIMC)

Li Brocade, with its over 3,000 years of history, is an exotic flower among Hainan and even China’s treasure trove of intangible cultural heritage. As one of China’s forms of ancient ethnic brocade, it is often called a "living fossil" of China’s textile history.

Tang Qiuchen appraising Li Brocade. (Photo / Chen Mingwen, HIMC)

Tang Qiuchen has nice childhood memories of Li Brocade. In the past, every Li family would weave their own, and as a child, she would always see the beautiful scenes of village women gathered together weaving Li brocade while having a natter. By the time she had grown up, she found that those days were long gone. The previous custom of weaving wedding dresses for soon-to-be-wed bride has been replaced by the wearing of modern western or Han-style wedding dresses gradually. 

Tang Qiuchen and a weaver talk shop. (Photo / Chen Mingwen, HIMC)

In Qiuchen's opinion, it would be a cultural tragedy if the traditional textile techniques used to make Li Brocade were lost. Determined to preserve and pass down this invaluable heritage, in 2018, she founded the Dongfang Li Brocade Cultural Center to promote Li Brocade culture and sell Li Brocade garments and handicraft.

“So long as you’re willing to weave, I'm willing to buy. And if you continue weaving, I'll continue buying.” Qiuchen promised the weavers.

With her encouragement and support, more than 1,000 weavers in Dongfang City have taken up their looms once more, leading to a renaissance in Li Brocade weaving.

Tang Qiuchen introducing Li Brocade to Inira. (Photo / Chen Mingwen, HIMC)

How does Qiuchen go about selling the Li Brocade that these weavers worked so hard to make? This is an issue that causes her a great deal of stress. To sell out these products, she has been participating in various offline exhibitions, seizing each and every opportunity to promote Li Brocade. She is now planning to put together a livestreaming channel to expand sales. A couple of the ways she has attempted to broaden the appeal of Li Brocade are incorporating it into products we use in our daily lives and turning it into fashion.

Inira admiring a product incorporating Li Brocade. (Photo / Chen Mingwen, HIMC)

“I want to take the work of these weavers and the beauty of Dongfang Li Brocade out of its mountain home and into the wider world. I also hope that our Dongfang Li Brocade can become a cultural representative of the Hainan Free Trade Port,”said Qiuchen.

Tang Qiuchen proudly showing off a piece of Li Brocade. (Photo / Chen Mingwen, HIMC)

In this episode of "Hainan Through My Eyes", we about how Tang Qiuchen has breathed new life into Li Brocade and expanded its horizons.

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