Advanced Materials Research Submitted: 2014-07-28 ISSN: 1662-8985, Vol. 1048, pp 290-293 Accepted: 2014-08-04 doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1048.290 Online: 2014-10-08 2014 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland A Study of Uyghur Folk Carpet Pattern Xiakeer Saitaer 1 a 1 College of Textile and Fashion, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, 830046, China Corresponding e-mail: a xaker2@163.com Keywords: folk, carpet, pattern Abstract. Uyghur carpet is the traditional Uyghur handicraft, it is the fusion of spinning, dyeing, knitting and painting with both practical and artistic value. Its origination dates back to more than 2000 years ago and it has been evolving gradually ever since along with the economic development. In recent years, carpet samples with thousands of years history have been discovered in the ruins of ancient tomb in Niya, Shanpula, Yuli, Zhagunluke, Talimu and Peacock River. Scholarships are amazed at the carpets unique patterns, delicate quality and fine colors. These carpets are weaved with patterns of human figure, animal and god bird. These patterns are surrounded by designs of beautiful flower and scenery. Some patterns contain auspicious words. The weaving technique, pattern designs and color scheme not only reflect how ancient Uyghur people think about the world, their appreciation of beauty and value of life, but also demonstrate their nature to pursue, and create aesthetic value and their enjoyment of beauty. Introduction The Xinjiang carpet actually is a physical evidence for proving the civilization created by Uyghur people in various historic stages, presenting the history changes in economic, culture, nationality and religion etc. Acting as the carrier of national culture, the carpet displays vivid ethnic customs and features in respects of design, pattern and color etc.; and reflects the Uyghur's living habits, sense of style and characters. Hence, the carpet possesses a very important role in Uyghur people s life. During over 2000 years of its historical development, Uyghur carpet has achieved continuous improvements in content, design, color, pattern, scale of production and yielding capacity etc.; and its designs and patters fully embody versatility of Uyghur cultures. [1] Besides, Uyghur carpet is considered as a tangible cultural heritage while it is a representative of intangible cultural heritage, embracing various values and meanings in Uyghur people s life. Structure of Uyghur Carpet The carpet is made up of five parts from side to the center. They are tassels, kugapu, crimping, brim and pattern.[2] But the compositions are not absolute. According to different patterns, there are variations among horizontal patterns. The surface of carpet is made up of three parts; some are four or five, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig.1. Cross-sectional view of the carpet All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of Trans Tech Publications, www.ttp.net. (ID: 130.203.136.75, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA-09/05/16,00:59:56)
Advanced Materials Research Vol. 1048 291 Nature Elements Contained in Uyghur Carpet Patterns The pattern designs are contained in the brim and central of the carpet. In another word, patterns contained in the brim and central of the carper make up the two pattern structure. These patterns consist of simple images in all styles and shapes. The inspiration of solo patterns comes from the images of nature and human being. These images are imitated and reproduced to attach aesthetic value. [3]Here are the classifications of these images contained in the Uyghur carpet patterns. 1) Patterns using image of tree: pomegranate tree, grape vine, populus euphratica, white poplar, pine tree, willow and so on. These elements are commonly used in the carpets styled in the pattern of pomegranate, bottles and cans, images and landscape art. 2) Patterns using image of farm crops, plans and branches: including the overall shape of cotton, rose, Semen Cuscutae and Calabash Gourd and branches, such as cotton stem, rose stem, willow trig and pomegranate tree branches. [4] 3) Patterns using image of flower: including rose, Chinese rose, peony, lotus and other flowers and buds. 4) Patterns using image of fruits: including water melon, sweet melon (both complete and parts), apple, peach, grape, Almonds and pomegranate. 5) Patterns using image of natural objects: including hill and mountain, river, lake, fall, forest, grassland, bush and Gobi desert. 6) Patterns using figure: including real figure, female image, male image, young man image and artistic images of various figures. 7) Patterns using image of animal and insect: including horse, cow, cameral, deer, ducky, lion, tiger, swallow, sparrow, rooster, pigeon, butterfly and peacock. [5] 8) Patterns using image of animal, insect, bird footprint, feather and body: including patterns in the shape of palm (cameral), snake, spider, rooster, rooster tail (rooster feather) and so on. 9) Patterns using image of life articles: including patterns in the shape of key, candle, lamp (branch-shaped frame), pocket, headscarf (women), tray, kettle, teapot, knitting articles and so on. 10) Patterns using image of various means of production: including patterns in shape of thick string, hook, steelyard hook, wood hook, bottle (such as flat bottle, long-necked vase, round-belly vase, four-side vase, six-side vase, vase with stand, high jar, short jar and flower pot), basketball (in the shape of copper tub), cave rings (grape basketball) and so on. 11) Patterns using image of building: including patterns in shape of house, large gate, steps, fence, dome and so on. [6] The above images bear certain natural beauty. But these images should be reproduced artistically to display their appearance, shape and color in the patters of carpet instead of being produced in the carpet originally as they are. Some images of regular objects, even images of horrible animals can be designed artistically to integrate harmoniously with other parts in the patterns. They can also display a sense of beauty. In all, images of natural objects or figures, which display aesthetic values when they are reproduced by human wisdom and techniques, can be used as the smallest part in the patterns to symbolize something meaningful.
292 Advances in Textile Engineering and Materials IV Usage of Elements in Uyghur Carpet Pattern It is well-known that any kind of carpet pattern consists of many single pattern elements. However, the elements in the pattern cannot be selected and placed in any site in the pattern randomly. In all, the elements of the patterns are selected according to certain rules no matter how many elements make up any kind of pattern. There are many groups of patterns in Uyghur carpet. Separate patterns are developed into large and complicate structured patterns by natural arrangement and patchwork method. (1) Natural Arrangement Separate images are arranged naturally. In another word, images of same type or style are arranged into a pattern. For example, images of fruit of pomegranate tree, bud, flower, pomegranate with leaves and pomegranate tree branch can be either used as separate patterns or rearranged into a large pattern group. by a certain order. Flowers of rose and peony are separate elements in the pattern. [7] (2) Patchwork Arrangement images of various types and styles are put together to an overall pattern by artistic technique. Or images of the same shape which impossibly form a concrete pattern are put together to form a group of pattern. The common groups of pattern in Uyghur carpet are made by the following method and shape: 1) Overlapping Sequence: bud, flower and leaf of different shape, size and colors are clustered to form a pattern. There is no line to frame the pattern. People would feel the pattern look like a cluster of flower. They are in various appearances, as shown in Fig. 2. Fig.2. Shape of flower in paralleling pattern 2) Pattern in the shape of spindle: separate images of different shape, size and color are rearranged into the pattern with the shape of spindle (+). The outer parts of pattern which are in the shape of four-leafed clover form the spindle-like pattern, as shown in Fig. 3. Fig.3. Shape of Spindle in paralleling pattern 3) Pattern arranged in the shape of necklace: two sides of the patchwork pattern or outer part of main lines are rearranged in the shape of a necklace, as shown in Fig. 4. Fig.4. Shape of necklace in paralleling pattern
Advanced Materials Research Vol. 1048 293 4) Pattern in the shape of shrine: Various separate images are rearranged to form the shape of mosque shrine, as shown in Fig. 5. Fig.5. Shape of shrine in paralleling pattern Patterns used in Hotan carpet are not limited to the above groups. Some patterns are hard to identify as a concrete object. Some patterns are in the shape of more than on objects. However, what we commonly see is the above patchwork patterns. In the process of weaving, these pattern elements are harmonious with separate patterns and can be enlarge or reduced according to certain proportion. Conclusion The structure characteristics of Uyghur folk carpet determine its decorative pattern, which is derived from production and life practice, and reflects the Uyghur life thoughts and religious ideas, it is the design with extreme national characteristic. There are lots of patterns on Uyghur folk carpet, mainly by natural patchwork arrangement and permutation combination and then expand individual patterns into larger and more complex pattern group. The pattern of carpet and coordination or incoordination arrangements, the edge designs of the carpet, and the patterns inside all have their unique characteristics. Acknowledgements This work was financially supported by the Xinjiang folk culture Research Center of Xinjiang university of Xinjiang Educational Department of China, Subject No.: XJEDU010213C02 References [1] Xiakeer Saitaer, a,xiaoming Yang. An Analysis of Uyghur Folk Carpet Craftsmanship of Xinjiang[J].Advanced Material Research,2013(vols.627):275-278. [2] Qin Guangyan, Qin Yan. Oriental Hand-made Carpet (Chinese-English Bilingual) Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House, 2005 [3] Ayiguli Keyoumu. Study on Uyghur Embroidery Technique Xinjiang Normal University Master s Thesis, 2010 [4] Liu Yongdong, Li Jie. Basic Pattern HunanCentral South University Press, 2004 [5] Wang Jian. Life Kaleidoscope: Uyghur Folk Pattern History Teaching Material, 2010(4) [6] Alimujiang Makesuti. Study on Uyghur Folk House (Uyghur) Xinjiang People s Publishing House, 2001 [7] Nuermuhanmaitijiang Miman. A Collection of Embroidery Pattern (Uyghur) Kashgar Uyghur Language Publishing House, 1996
Advances in Textile Engineering and Materials IV 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1048 A Study of Uyghur Folk Carpet Pattern 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1048.290