Nestled in the border region of Yunnan, Tengchong is home to a multitude of remarkable handcrafted techniques. Today, let us focus on one of Tengchong's three treasures: rattan weaving.

Rattan weaving is a treasured intangible cultural heritage skill of Tengchong. For centuries, industrious and talented craftsmen have passed it down through generations, establishing Tengchong as the renowned "Hometown of Rattan Weaving." 

Tracing the history of rattan weaving, historical texts such as the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" mention the “Rattan Armored Army,” whose armor was made from woven rattan. This armor was said to be impervious to water and resistant to blades and arrows, evoking astonishment. In the past, in areas such as Mingguang, Jietou, and Guyong along Tengchong's borders, many roads built across rivers used ancient rattan bridges. Although these rattan bridges swayed with movement, they were remarkably durable. Perhaps due to the extensive use of rattan in Tengchong, many ancient place names incorporated the character “rattan,” with historical texts referring to it as “Tengchong,” meaning “a land abundant in rattan.” It wasn't until the late Ming and early Qing dynasties that the character for "rattan" became elegantly transformed into "Teng."

Tengchong's ancient forests, bordering Myanmar, yield a high-quality type of rattan known as "tengmie," characterized by its toughness, elongated form, smooth skin, and excellent elasticity, making it an ideal natural weaving material.

The resourceful and ingenious people of Tengchong have long utilized this divine gift to create sturdy, durable, and aesthetically pleasing rattan products, making rattan weaving a cherished local folk craft.

Rattan woven items are diverse and elegantly blend tradition with innovation. They are both practical and artistic, making them well-suited for any setting, which contributes to their popularity. Nowadays, rattan weaving has become widespread in both urban and rural areas, producing not only traditional furniture like tables and chairs but also baskets, boxes, and even full sets of living room and study furniture.

Rattan weaving creates items that embody a coolness, simplicity, elegance, and natural vitality. Sourced from the mountains and fields, these items draw from the essence of nature, brimming with life and balancing strength and flexibility. Due to the scarcity of raw materials, Tengchong often imports rattan from Myanmar.

The rattan weaving craft demands immense patience from artisans. Hand weaving is the key and most challenging step, requiring the expertise of experienced craftsmen. A single rattan product typically undergoes numerous processes, including selection, cleaning, and drying of the rattan, with rattan branches, cores, or bamboo serving as the framework. The weaving utilizes rattan skin or young rattan cores to fully showcase the characteristics of the rattan.

With abundant resources and skilled craftsmen, Tengchong became renowned as the "Hometown of Rattan Weaving" quite early on. Today, if one were to mention the most famous rattan weaving, it would undoubtedly be Ma Chang.

Yang Aiqing from Shang Machang is an exceptional craftsman, and his son Yang Wenchao, learned from his father’s expertise, has further refined his skills from other craftsmen, developing unique patterns and techniques.

Now, his family not only weaves furniture but also combines new techniques to create crafts that are ancient yet innovative, practical yet beautiful. The bags they weave feature elegant colors and a soft feel, exuding a natural, primitive vitality. Their rattan pieces designed for tourist attractions are meticulously crafted, with smooth lines and elegant shapes that merge nature and daily life, showcasing the unique charm of rattan weaving.

Traditional culture deserves to be treasured and safeguarded, and the art of rattan weaving brings solace to the soul. For millennia, rattan has carried profound historical and cultural significance, continuing to thrive to this day.

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(Editors: Jennifer, Ines)