Zigong Tie-Dye

Zigong Tie-Dye

　　Tie-dye, a form of folk arts and crafts that dates back to the Qin and Han dynasties, is one of the varieties of blue-printed cloth for which Zigong City is internationally renowned. Over the years, items produced using this dyeing technique—such as handkerchiefs, headscarves, tablecloths, curtains, bed sheets, and placemats—have sold well in both domestic and international markets. At the 1986 Zigong Lantern Festival, this deeply folk-inspired craft made its first appearance in the lantern displays, showcasing its unique charm. At that festival, an unprecedented ten tie-dye lanterns were presented, featuring themes such as the stegosaurus and plesiosaurus, highlighting Zigong’s reputation as the “Hometown of Dinosaurs,” as well as traditional folk motifs including silver ingot lanterns, linked lanterns, Buddha lanterns, gourd lanterns, double-fish lanterns, squirrel lanterns, moon lanterns, elephant lanterns, and square-victory lanterns. The tie-dye technique employed bold and rich colors, combining the delicacy of fine brushwork with the freehand flair of ink painting, creating a strong sense of light and shadow. From a distance, the lanterns looked almost solid, yet up close they revealed layers of meaning. Their hues were distinctly separated, vivid and varied—some lanterns even used seven or eight colors, all harmoniously blended to provide a visual feast. The innovation of using tie-dye as lantern fabric was pioneered by Zhang Yuzhong, a folk tie-dye artist from the Zigong Arts and Crafts Factory. He skillfully applied various tie-dye techniques such as “deer fetus tie,” “Shu tie,” “silk tie,” “pinch tie,” and “silkworm tie” to the making of lantern surfaces. As a result, these tie-dye lanterns displayed clear layering, depth variation, and radiant colors when illuminated, without any issues of light blocking or dimming, giving viewers a refreshing impression. Zhang Yuzhong’s tie-dye artistry had long been highly regarded within the province. He approached the creation of tie-dye lanterns with meticulous care. For the character designs, he drew inspiration from the “Afu” figures of Tianjin’s “Clay Figurine Zhang,” with four Afu figures holding fish, peonies, crabapple blossoms, and red peaches respectively. The figures were plump and expressive, evoking a joyful and festive atmosphere. The thirty tie-dye lanterns featured at this festival were all created by first constructing the lantern frames, then cutting the silk satin fabric to shape, drawing designs, and finally applying needlework. As a result, high craftsmanship was required in painting, needling, and dyeing. This innovative endeavor achieved excellent results and received widespread acclaim.

　　　Zigong tie-dye is a long-standing traditional specialty of Zigong City, Sichuan Province. Historically known as “Shu Jie,” it is one of the “Three Lesser Treasures of Zigong.” Tie-dye originated in the Qin Dynasty and is one of the varieties of blue-printed cloth for which Zigong is internationally known. Today, tie-dye fabrics have expanded to include cotton, linen, silk, satin, velveteen, suede, and leather. Major products include fashion garments, ties, wall hangings, handkerchiefs, scarves, curtains, tablecloths, and bed sheets.