T251

Dong hill tribe rag rug China Early 20th century 44″ x 65″ The Dong people live mostly in eastern Guizhou, western Hunan, and northern Guangxi in China. Due to the remote location, the Dong have preserved a traditional way of life and ancient traditions are plain to see for any traveler lucky enough to travel through the province. Textiles are still vitally important to the people of Guizhou, both culturally and economically. Age old methods of textile production are still implemented today and draw influence fromĀ  intricately decorated fabrics. The Dong people rely heavily on oral tradition, and share a rich array of legends and folklore through popular operas performed by local troupes, and their internationally-renowned polyphonic choir has been listed by UNESCO as a world-class intangible cultural heritage since 2009. A rag rug is made from small strips of fabric hooked into or pushed through a base material such as hessian.