Debao Flower Baskets

Debao Flower Baskets

　　Debao Flower Baskets

　　The “Debao Flower Baskets” are woven primarily from wheat straw and decorated through multiple crafting processes. They are beautifully shaped, finely made, simple yet elegant, delicate and novel, rich in distinctive local ethnic characteristics, and boast extremely high ornamental value—making them a favorite handicraft among women and children. The “Debao Flower Baskets” are a unique traditional ethnic handwoven craft from Debao County, Guangxi. As early as the Ming Dynasty, locals in Debao treasured this fine handicraft as an essential festive gift. In the first year of the Hongwu era, Cen Tianbao, the Tusi ruler of Zhen’an in Guangxi, cherished the flower baskets like precious treasures and often gifted them to guests.

　　The “Debao Flower Baskets” are a unique traditional ethnic handwoven craft from Debao County, Guangxi. As early as the Ming Dynasty, locals in Debao treasured this fine handicraft as an essential festive gift. In the first year of the Hongwu era, Cen Tianbao, the Tusi ruler of Zhen’an in Guangxi, cherished the flower baskets like precious treasures and often gifted them to guests. According to the *Debao County Annals*, “The flower basket is made by weaving wheat straw and adorning it with gorgeous silk threads, resulting in a dainty and exquisite shape. During the Ming Dynasty, on celebratory occasions such as birthdays and weddings, the Zhuang people in Debao County had the custom of exchanging flower baskets as gifts.” At that time, people used the baskets as ornaments placed on windowsills and tables to enhance the festive and auspicious atmosphere.

　　In 1972, during the National Day celebrations, the “Debao Flower Baskets” were showcased at the National Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Beijing. Premier [Note: Number redacted as per instruction 2] specially presented this treasure as a state gift to foreign dignitaries such as Prince Sihanouk. During the 1995 “Fourth World Conference on Women” held in Beijing, the “Debao Flower Baskets” were designated as exhibition highlights and invited to the 1995 National Women and Children’s Products Fair. They received high praise and widespread acclaim from both domestic and international visitors, as well as women from various countries, leading to an overwhelming demand that outstripped supply.

　　Over the years, Debao County has taken effective measures and made great efforts to inherit and protect the craftsmanship of making Zhuang-style wheat straw flower baskets. Through initiatives such as bringing intangible cultural heritage into schools and organizing training workshops on the traditional technique of crafting wheat straw flower baskets, the skill has been well preserved. Currently, the wheat straw basket-making craft has been included in the county-level intangible cultural heritage list, and further efforts are underway to collect and compile materials for its inclusion in the city-level intangible cultural heritage list.