Feature: Millennium-old Tibetan carpet weaving finds new vitality in modern life

XINING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Yang Yongliang, a practitioner of the millennium-old Jiaya Tibetan carpet weaving craft from northwest China's Qinghai Province, has taken on a new role as a technical consultant for a local carpet factory, which he undertakes alongside his work to carry on the ancient form of intangible cultural heritage.

"The more people who learn this craft, the better chance we have to keep our ethnic culture alive and preserve this ancient skill for future generations," Yang said from a factory workshop belonging to the Shengyuan carpet group, one of the largest Tibetan carpet producers in China, located in Xining, the provincial capital.

With a history of more than 2,000 years, Tibetan carpet is a traditional handicraft on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. In 2006, the Jiaya Tibetan carpet weaving skills were inscribed in China's first group of national intangible cultural heritage items.

According to Yang, Jiaya Tibetan carpets are primarily characterized by dark tones, and are made from natural wool and high-quality yak hair that are produced locally in Qinghai. The carpets are not only durable but also environmentally friendly, he added.

Once a household necessity for warmth, Tibetan carpets are finding new life in the markets of today, with local government support and enterprise participation enabling the integration of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.

In a Shengyuan workshop, employees skillfully trim the machine-woven patterns, bringing once-flat designs to life. "Machines take care of most of the basic weaving to boost efficiency, while skilled artisans finish the rest by hand, giving every carpet its own distinctive character," said Che Guolong, who manages the company's design and research department.

The design team also studies traditional Tibetan carpet patterns and, with the aid of artificial intelligence, has a bank of tens of thousands of designs. By integrating modern design elements, they have developed carpets with three-dimensional patterns, sparkling motifs and other innovative features.

With improved quality and innovative designs, the factory's Tibetan carpets have found markets across China and more than 40 other countries and regions, including Italy, Japan and the United States. In the first half of this year, its export revenue increased by more than 8 percent, with annual exports remaining steady at above 80 million yuan (about 11.3 million U.S. dollars).

"Besides passing down the handcrafting skills, for us, inheritance also means carrying forward the spirit and culture behind them," said Xue Ting, the company's chairperson. She believes that Tibetan carpets are not only a form of art but also a carrier of cultural expression, and that it is only by keeping pace with the times and building on tradition that the Tibetan carpet industry can go even further.

From cultural heritage workshops to smart factories, and from safeguarding tradition to embracing innovation, Tibetan carpet products have expanded from a handful of original varieties to about 28 series and over 100 different types. Local authorities have introduced measures to promote industrial upgrading and high-quality development, and have cultivated a skilled group of workers to meet labor demand.

In recent years, Yang has also held classes in Xining and its surrounding areas, teaching more than 200 students the art of Tibetan carpet weaving.

"I have been in this craft for 40 years. I once thought of myself simply an artisan," Yang said. "But now, with the government placing greater emphasis on Tibetan carpets, I am determined to find every possible way to preserve and promote this traditional skill." ■