The colorful ribbons of the She ethnic group, also known as flower ribbons, word ribbons, and waist ribbons, have been passed down through generations. Since the ancestors of the She ethnic group migrated to Jingning, the art of ribbon weaving has also been brought there and passed down through generations. The colorful ribbon is a traditional handcrafted textile of the She ethnic group, which serves as both a decoration for clothing and a practical item for daily use, such as waistbands and shoulder straps. It is also a symbol of affection, betrothal gifts, and blessings to ward off evil spirits. During betrothal, regardless of what gift the groom presents, the girl must give a colorful ribbon woven by herself as a return gift. When She ethnic girls reach the age of six or seven, their mothers teach them how to weave colorful ribbons. The delicacy of the ribbon weaving is an important indicator of the girl's dexterity and talent.
Colorful ribbons are primarily woven with silk threads, though cotton yarn or ramie can also be used. There is no special loom for weaving ribbons; it can be done indoors, outdoors, or even in the mountains. If weaving indoors, one end of the silk thread is tied to a stool leg, table edge, or house pillar, and the other end is fastened around the waist, sitting on a stool to weave. If weaving in the mountains, one end of the silk thread can be tied to a small tree branch or stump, and the other end is still wrapped around the waist, sitting or kneeling on the ground to weave. The subject matter of She ethnic ribbons often revolves around words, directly expressing their meaning. The process of weaving She ethnic ribbons generally includes the following steps: 1. Preparing the warp; 2. Warping; 3. Making hand-pulled heddles; 4. Setting up the loom; 5. Weaving the ribbon; 6. Adding patterns.
Weaving technique of She ethnic group's colorful ribbons: an entry in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage -Representative Traditional Crafts Category.