Indigo Making Skills

Approved in 2009, the indigo system of the Yao nationality in northern Qiu has a long history. According to the records of the Republic of China, "The Ethnic Group of Wanqiu County in Vimo Prefecture", "The Yao people in northern Qiu migrated to live from the border of Guangxi, Yi and Guizhou in the early Ming Dynasty... and many kinds of indigo were used as a profession". Yao people's indigo production is mainly distributed in chongxuo village, Jinping town and yazitang village, wenliu township, etc. in qiubei county, which has been more than 600 years. Blue indigo is made of pure natural indigo plants as raw materials and made by unique and traditional production methods. It is a rare environmentally friendly dye with strong and pure color, pleasant fragrance and anti-corrosion and moth prevention. It is the first choice of dye in modern life, tie dye and batik. It can also be used as a cyanine pigment in traditional Chinese painting and is favored by Chinese painters. The indigo production process, as an excellent traditional culture, has been passed down for hundreds of years and is the crystallization of the diligence and wisdom of the Chinese nation. In 2009, Yao indigo production technology was named provincial intangible cultural heritage.

indigo production process is very particular. Indigo is usually planted in May and June when rainfall is abundant, and can be harvested in August and September. The specific method of making indigo juice is to harvest the indigo trees planted by oneself and put them into a special "indigo cellar" to soak for five days and five nights. When the water in the cellar turns blue and gives off the scent of indigo, the branches and leaves of indigo are fished out with a wooden rake and a filter indigo basket. Sprinkle an appropriate amount of fine lime powder into the indigo cellar and stir it with a stirring rod. After an hour or so of operation, a large amount of green foam floating on the water surface will stop. Seal the cellar mouth with banana leaves, straw, etc. to prevent damage in rainy days. Two days later, lime and indigo water are combined and precipitated, I .e. the waste water at the upper end of the cellar is discharged, and the indigo juice (semi-solid) left at the bottom of the cellar is discharged into the indigo cellar for 3 to 5 days. Shovel the cream indigo juice into the indigo storage tank and move it home for later use. When dyeing the fabric, just add the right amount of cold water and white wine to the indigo dyeing vat to dilute it. Traditional printing and dyeing cold and hot dyeing two; the color is generally black, dark blue (commonly known as navy blue) and purple (commonly known as magenta). Dyeing methods generally have general dyeing, batik, tie-dyeing and so on. Traditional indigo tools and facilities include wooden rake, filter indigo basket, stir bar, indigo dyeing vat and indigo kiln.

Production materials