Decorative knotwork in East Asia
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Decorative knotwork in East Asia is a kind of characteristic folk decoration of handicraft arts practised in East Asia. Such knotwork appeared in ancient times, developed in the Tang and Song Dynasty (960-1229 A.D.) in China and was popularized in Ming and Qing Dynasty (1368-1911 A.D.). For this reason, the knots are often referred to as Chinese knots or Chinese traditional decorative knots. The Chinese knot has now become a type of elegant and colorful craft, removed from its original practical use.
In Korea, decorative knotwork is known as maedeup (매듭), often translated as Korean knots. Inspired by Chinese knotwork, a wall painting found in Anak, Hwanghae Province, now in North Korea, dated 357 AD, indicates that the work was flourishing in silk at that time. Decorative cording was used on silk dresses, to ornament swords, to hang personal items from belts for the aristocracy, in rituals, where it continues now in contemporary wedding ceremonies. Knot-work is differentiated from Korean embroidery which is quite different.
Historically knot-work divided into cords and knots.
A certain number of craftsmen were stationed in the court and outside the court to produce cords and knots in order to meet the increasing demand for them at various places of the court. They worked only on those days fixed for work and on other days they did their own. Cord, knot and tassels were made singly and used in combination.
The Bong Sool tassel is noteworthy, and the most representative work familiar to westerners, and often bought as souvenirs for macrame-style wall-hangings.
Chinese knot also refers to a game in which the players hold thir arms together in a complex patten while a bystander tries to give them directions to untie their arms.
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