Forefather of Eastern Carpet

Hotan is the hometown of eastern style carpet. According to the record of old history book, at the early time of Yin and Shang Dynasties, West Kunlun (the Western Regions) must offer carpets to King Shang. In that time, the carpet had been treasure. Hotan is located in the South Route of Silk Road. The carpet was the one of important goods in the Chinese and Western culture exchange. Today there are still a great number of carpets offered by Xinjiang to Qing Dynasty stored in the Forbidden City of Beijing. The carpet produced in Hotan ranks the first among carpets in Xinjiang.

The Uygur peasants in Hotan area still keep the tradition of family carpet weaving. On the unrefined wooden frame, with man-knit and without the help of drawing, they can accomplish carpets with soft color, harmonious scale and delicate pattern.

Tourists have a chance to visit the process of unrefined loom weaving silk and carpet in Jiya Town of Luopu County, 11 kilometers northwest away from Hotan City. Every family there holds unrefined wooden loom and big spinning wheel, and everyone can make them into use no matter the old or the young. The sound of loom can be heard everywhere. The Edless Silk produced by them are significantly beautiful. The tourist may buy a piece of such silk as a souvenir.

In Jiya Town, wooden frames can be found in every household. Every person has the ability to weave carpets. It is a common scene of three generations weaving the same carpet together. Tourists can contact with households if they want to buy carpets.

Written by www.travel-silkroad.com
Translated by Beijing Star-light Translation Center
September 12, 2002