Ningxia Carpet [Ningxia Zhongwei Specialty]

What is Ningxia carpet? Authentic Ningxia Zhongwei specialty: Ningxia carpet

Content summary:Do you want to know what Ningxia carpet is? This article is a specialized article that provides a detailed introduction to theNingxia Zhongwei specialty - Ningxia Carpet. It was compiled and edited by the editorial team of China Specialty Network, who reviewed and collected relevant information on Ningxia Carpet. The full text takes about 8 minutes to read, mainly including the basic introduction of Ningxia Carpet and the product characteristics of Ningxia Carpet? How did the history of carpets in Ningxia come about? The production methods of Ningxia carpets, etc

Basic Introduction to Ningxia Carpets

The development of Chinese carpets originated in Xinjiang, and then gradually spread to Gansu, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Xizang through the Silk Road, and finally to Beijing in 1860. Among them, the handmade carpets woven by Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region are one of the best carpets in China and even in the world. The pattern design has a unique style and is skilled in using blue, red, and beige colors. Sometimes geometric patterns are also used, and after trimming the plush on the blanket, the patterns become clearer and more beautiful. The blanket lining is woven with cotton thread. The carpets in Ningxia, due to their fine workmanship, uniform and bright colors, and excellent texture, have not only become the leading brands, but also have since taken over the exclusive carpets for the court, temples, and nobles. As a result, Ningxia carpets have become famous overnight with high prices

The patterns on the carpets used in temples are mainly based on Buddhist symbols, such as diamond pestles, ten thousand character patterns, eight treasure patterns, auspicious cloud patterns, Buddha bead patterns, lion dogs, etc. All of them are patterns closely related to Buddhism. According to their purposes, they can be divided into: banner carpets, tapestries, Zen carpets, pillar carpets, etc

As a tribute and royal gift blanket, it is used in celebrations, birthday wishes, and celebrations, with patterns mainly featuring auspicious flowers, auspicious grass, and dark Eight Immortals. Like the Eight Immortals with extraordinary symbolic abilities, metaphorically referring to a group of flowers that are happy and reunited. To express people's good wishes

Early Ningxia carpets commonly used brocade patterns, which are patterns that cover the entire carpet surface in a regular combination of various flowers. These brocade patterns include ten thousand character patterns, loop patterns, petal patterns, turtle back patterns, etc

During the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, purebred sheep growing on the Alxa Plateau in the northwest of Helan Mountain had good wool elasticity, high wool density, and high glossiness, making them the most ideal carpet wool. Ningxia Prefecture (Yinchuan), separated only by a mountain from the Alxa Plateau, was a major thoroughfare connecting the northwest to the Central Plains at that time, and also a distribution center for Alxa wool and carpets. So, the wool of Alxa is called Ningxia wool, and the carpet woven from this wool is called Ningxia carpet. Due to the use of high-quality Ningxia wool with high velvet content, its plush is long, the blanket is soft, and the feel is good, earning it the nickname "velvet blanket".

The special feature of Ningxia blanket is its color matching, usually emphasizing the combination of red, yellow, and moon white in blue patterns, and the use of colors is also quite particular. Different identities use different colors. The extensive use of yellow in Ningxia blanket is mainly due to the use of court and temple blankets. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there was a strict hierarchy of color usage. Yellow was the exclusive color for the court, while red was the color used by nobles and upper class society. In Tibetan Buddhism, the most powerful color at that time was yellow. Huangjiao "uses yellow, including the monk's hat, the top of temple buildings, and temple decorations such as blankets, Yellow is the exclusive color for the palace and temples, as Ningxia antique carpets are used by the upper class

The handmade carpet in Zhongwei is made of high-quality materials, with cotton warp and wool fleece. It is hand woven, with clear texture, long pile up, plant dyeing, pure color, and glossy surface. The pattern is sparse and elegant, with colors such as turmeric, deep camel, light camel, deep blue, moon white, brown coffee, fragrant colors, etc. The light colored border highlights the contrast of warmth and coldness, and the two tone technique highlights the decoration, elegant and colorful yet dignified and majestic. Throughout the inheritance and continuation, the handmade carpets of Zhongwei have always been popular

The production method of Ningxia carpets

Currently, the handmade carpets in Zhongwei are basically still using the methods left over from ancient times. The production process includes 14 steps, including wool selection, spinning, dyeing, drawing, warp knitting, twisting, base setting, knotting, weft crossing, shearing, flattening, carpet washing, flower cutting, and finishing. The technical difficulty is high and the production cycle is long. The weaving method inherits the traditional Chinese velvet cutting technique, using the "hanging warp and weaving weft" method, tying 8 knots, and forming unique edge warp forms such as herringbone patterns. The weaving density has 11 to 15 knots every 5 centimeters longitudinally, with a thickness of 5 to 8 millimeters. This weaving density and thickness are very sturdy and stable, and will not be damaged or detached after many years of use