Chinese Knotting 中國結

Chinese Knotting 中國結

Decoration, Blessings, Strings, Folk art

A Chinese knot is a knot that is tied and woven from a single length of cord or rope to be a variety of shapes and of varying complexity. Each shape has its own symbolic meaning, and nowadays you can find them as decoration, gifts for special occasions, and adornments on clothes.

Tang and Song Dynasties (960–1279 AD)

Palm-sized

Craft

Most knots are double layered and symmetrical and have two cords entering the knot from the top and two leaving from the bottom.

Strings, Ropes

Each kind of knot is named after its shape or the symbolic meaning that it carries. People may have originally made them to record information and convey messages before people started to write.

Around the times of Chinese new year festival, Chinese knot decorations can be seen hanging on walls, doors of homes and as shop decorations to add some festival feel. Usually, these decorations are in red color, which traditional Chinese regards it as a color of "luck".

This connotation can even be seen in Chinese words. The Chinese word for 'rope' is 'shèng' that sounds similar to the words for 'spirit,' 'divine,' and 'life.' Knots had a spiritual meaning and were used for worship.

The word for 'knot' itself is 'jié' and is related to many other terms that reinforce the symbolic meaning of the knots. For example, 'tuán jié' which means 'to unite,' 'jié hūn' means 'to marry,' and 'jié guŏ' means 'bear fruit,' 'result,' or 'outcome.' So a knot given to a marriage partner or a couple means all these things and having children as well.