When Liza, a Belarusian international student, first touched that bright red cord with her fingertips, she never imagined she would become captivated by this “magic” from the East—Chinese knotting art. Jin Huimin is the fourth-generation representative inheritor of the Jin’s Knotting Art, a Shenyang municipal-level intangible cultural heritage representative project. In her studio, colorful cords are skillfully looped, knotted, threaded, twined, and woven into exquisite works with her deft hands.
Knotting art flourished during the Tang and Song dynasties and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Through its long history and deep cultural accumulation, it has passed down the unique cultural essence of the Chinese nation. Knotting art is not only a display of aesthetic form and ingenious structure but also an expression of natural spirituality and humanistic spirit.
“This is so much more fun than scrolling through my phone,” Liza said with a smile. She had originally thought knots were merely simple decorations, but Ms. Jin told her that, from ancient knotting for record-keeping to modern use for blessings and auspiciousness, a single cord can “weave” a world of wonders. As Ms. Jin’s fingers fluttered, a knotted button took shape in the blink of an eye—then a full Chinese knot materialized in her palm. Liza widened her eyes in amazement. “This is exquisite Kung Fu-level craftsmanship!” she said.
“Knotting is like life. We should know when to hold firm and when to weave with patience.” Ms. Jin explained, demonstrating the basic techniques while sharing the cultural connotations embedded in the knotting art. At first, Liza’s movements were a bit stiff, and the cord playfully twisted between her fingers. But she quickly mastered the essentials. Her skills gradually improved, and she soon managed to weave a complete auspicious knot independently. This unexpected progress made Ms. Jin praise her: “You have a real talent.”
Under Ms. Jin’s guidance, Liza finally completed her first work, the “China-Belarus Friendship Knot”. Holding up the meaningful knot excitedly, she said, “I will take it back to Belarus, so my family can experience the charm of Chinese traditions.”
“This cord holds the secrets of time, revealing the beauty of integrating ancient and modern.” Gazing at the knot spinning between her fingers, Liza murmured, “It carries forward five thousand years of craftsmanship while being revitalized in modern life. Watching Ms. Jin integrate ancient techniques into fashionable designs, I realized that true cultural inheritance is not about replicating the past, but about making traditions come alive in the present and becoming part of our lives.”
