Chinese knot is a decorative handicraft art that began as a form of Chinese folk art in the Tang and Song Dynasty in China. It was later popularized in the Ming. The art is also referred to as Chinese traditional decorative knots.
History
Archaeological studies indicate that the art of tying knots dates back to prehistoric times. Recent discoveries include 100,000-year old bone needles used for sewing and bodkins , which were used to untie knots.
Craftsmanships
One major characteristic of decorative knotwork is that all the knots are tied using one piece of thread , which is usually about one meter in length. However, finished knots look identical from both the front and back.
Art and Culture
There are many different shapes of Chinese knots, the most common being butterflies, flowers, birds, dragons, fish, and even shoes. Culturally they were expected to ward off evil spirits similar to Bagua mirrors or act as good luck charms for Chinese marriages.