Beautiful and elaborate, complicate but following simple rules, the Nodes are part of 5,000 years China′s history and China′s archives provide us the proof.
There are many expressions in Chinese language which explains the roles of creating the Nodes in Ancient China, like ”a Node in a register rope (結繩記事jiéshéng jìshì)” and ”to make a big Node for major events and a little Node for less important events (大事大結其繩、小事小結其繩 dàshì dàjié qí shéng, xiaŏshì xiaŏjié qí shéng).”
At the beginning of Chinese civilization, people considered that a piece of rope deserves some respect because the word himself 繩 (shéng) and it′s pronouncement is similar with the word of deity 神 (shén).
The Nodes had even metaphorical meanings because of language derivations: Node (結 jié) is compose from 絲 (sī) and 吉 (jí), where 絲 (sī) means silk or rope and吉 (jí) means prosperity, a higher rank in society, long life, luck, wealth, health and safety.
The character 結 it describes a Node and from this motive represent the relationships and can be expanded in sense of power, harmony and human emotions. This connotations are expressed by a serial of Chinese words which contain this character, for example: 結實 (jiēshí) – ”to bear benefit”, 結交 (jiéjiāo) – ”to make friendship”, 結緣 (jiéyuán) – ”to be united by fait”, 結婚 (jiéhūn) – ”to get married” and 團結 (tuánjié) – ”to gader”.
Because tight bound between the Nodes and Chinese culture, the art of making Nodes still continue to be transmitted as a folclor art and is very respected one. This became a form of art in Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 a.Ch) and Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 a.Ch) and became at her′s pick at the half of Ming Dynasty and in Qing Dynasty (1368 – 1911 a.Ch) when the Nodes where used as decorations at traditional clothes.
This art is evaluating from the pure functional purpose to their utilization in decorative purposes for the holidays as pendants or hair ornaments. Some Nodes as ”The Node of Luck” where used as amulets for keeping away bad things, for avoid bad luck and to bring good fortune.
Chinese Nodes are composed from a single thread long at least 1 meter and are realized by following established rules and methods. The threads are folded, sometimes are twisted and drawn in fascinating creations. Even some Nodes can be extremely complicate and very artistical, every Nodes are realized in accordance with 20 basic technics. The real Chinese Nodes looks the same if you are looking from back side or from face side.
The name of one Node depends on his shape, on his final utility, on his place of creation and on his meaning. ”The Double Node of Money” , for example, has his name from ancient times from ancient Chinese coin (the ancient Chinese coin was made from multiples layers of Cupper). The name of ”The Button Node” taking us thinking at he′s final meanings. The name of ”Ten Thousand Node” not only it look like as the symbolistic symbol of Buddhist Swastika (most Chinese people use this symbol to represent Ten Thousand) it′s seen on the statue or paintings of Guayin Goddess, Bodhisattva full of compassion. The name of ”The Infinity Node” is incorporated the 8 Buddhist symbols represented the eternal rotation from whom are descending all the things. This Node represent endless interrelations and it is considered the base all many variety of Nodes.
Certainly, in the last century, specifically in the communism regime, this form of traditional art is loossing her′s importance. Only in the ′90 years The Art of Nodes knew a growth with the embroidery and traditional clothes and this form of Art are, now, a success in Chinese world.
