Hand Weaving from Generation to Generation

Jyaidexiu Town of Gonggar County, Shannan Prefecture is known as the "hometown of bangdian." It has many small shops, and every family has one or more looms. Its tweed products and pulu used to be given in tribute to imperial courts. Today almost every family works in textiles, and Jyaidexiu is one of the Bangdian production centers. As a local specialty, Bangdian has long been sold to various localities.

In Jyaidexiu Town, the wholesale price of a handmade bangdian is RMB 250, and the retail price is RMB 260-270. Dainzin Zhoigar said, "Workers earn RMB 80 for each bangdian they weave. A worker can produce one piece per day, and can earn RMB 2,400 a month. Weaving bangdian has now become residents’ main source of income." Yangzom, a woman worker at Dainzin Zhoigar’s cooperative, told us that she has been coming to the cooperative to weave bangdian when she is not busy with farm work for more than three years. "I can earn RMB 80 for each apron I weave. Other than the two months when farm work is busy, I can earn more than RMB 20,000 per year." Yangzom is content with her life.

After years of development, the bangdian produced at Dainzin Zhoigar’s cooperative are not only well known in Tibet, but also exported to Japan and Nepal. "I have taken part in many large-scale exhibitions, such as the Shanghai Expo and the Chengdu Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival. Our bangdian are well received. When I see good woven and knitted articles, I take photos for research purposes, and use them to improve our products." Dainzin Zhoigar admitted that she always exchanges ideas with domestic exhibitors at sale exhibitions, and that she has learned much from them. "Now is the machine era, and efficiency is the key. Will you stick to hand-weaving?" Dainzin Zhoigar pondered this question raised by the reporter for a while before answering, "The profit earned for one hand-woven bangdian is no more than RMB 10. Although meager, as an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage I will keep doing it this way, and hand the technique down from generation to generation."

Tibet tours are becoming more and more popular, and many tourists buy bangdian as tourist souvenirs, so supply is often short of demand. This year Dainzin Zhoigar has decided to expand production. She is building new workshops to house more looms and workers, especially women textile workers. The new plant covers an area of 2,600 square meters, double the original size. The exhibition hall has also been expanded, and new facilities such as dye houses added. She hopes that greater numbers of local women will join her production team.