A workshop in the mountains of Sichuan continues an ancient and influential Chinese art of herb-based dyeing
Where others see the rugged mountain and forests of central Sichuan province, Liu Yan sees a rainbow. Persimmons, plum flower petals, pomegranate peels, and even tea—she can transform them all into different colors and patterns on cloth.
The owner of an all-natural dyeing workshop called the Rustic Indigo Dyehouse in the bamboo forests surrounding Meishan, Sichuan, Liu divides her work into seasons. In spring, she lays out fresh plants and flowers on a clean cloth and hammers them gently in order to “print” the colors and shapes onto the material. Summer is the perfect time for dyeing with fermented persimmons and drying the fabric in the sun.
Keeping Alive the Ancient Craft of Natural Dyeing is a story from our issue, “Call of the Wild.” To read the entire issue, become a subscriber and receive the full magazine.
Wang Lin is a contributing writer at The World of Chinese who aspires to tell fresh stories about life, arts and culture in China—no prejudice, no clichés. Her writing has appeared on Nikkei Asia, the South China Morning Post, RADII, and elsewhere. She was born in Ningbo, a bustling port known for its dumplings and seafood.
