The Art of Chinese Knotting
中国结

Due to its essentially functional handicraft nature, Chinese knotting has historically received little attention as an art form, regardless of its aesthetic virtues and the wisdom of its designs that incorporate both utility and beauty. Threads are highly perishable and, as a result, no ancient Chinese knotwork has been found. Nevertheless, we can still find evidence of the existence of Chinese knotting in literature and other art forms, including knots on the clothing of sculptures and decorative patterns on bronze and ceramics. From at least the Southern Dynasties (420–589) Chinese people have been making special knots with specific names and using them as symbols, such as the “true lover’s knot” as an expression of love. As the first summer exhibition held at China Institute Gallery, this collection featured objects related to knots in ancient China, and traditional Chinese knotting works from the Qing dynasty (1644–1911).