Dong brocade of the Tong people

Dong brocade of the Tong people

　　According to historical records, Dong brocade is “woven from dyed kapok threads in five colors, with a coarse texture yet adorned with patterns. It features various designs of flowers, plants, birds, animals, as well as objects, and the finer pieces remain unfaded when soaked in water and unstained when exposed to oil.” The main patterns of Dong brocade include floral and plant shapes such as lotus and peony; bird and animal shapes such as paired phoenixes and mandarin ducks; object shapes such as pavilions and silver hooks; as well as geometric patterns, featuring vibrant colors. The designs are bold and the structure is meticulous. Dong brocade employs strongly contrasting hues paired with a rich variety of colorful patterns, giving it a vivid and rustic artistic style. It is mainly used for making garments, bedding, door curtains, backpacks, chest scarves, pillows, and more.