Tujia Brocade Lifts Women out of Poverty in SW China's Chongqing

Tujia women learn to weave brocade at a training class in Dazhai Village, Qingxichang Town, Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. [China Women's News/Xu Zhenxue]

Tujia brocade, also known as southwestern capu (Tujia language), is a traditional cultural treasure in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality and was among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritages in China.

Organized by the Poverty Alleviation Office and the Women's Federation of Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, in Chongqing, the brocade training of this year for local women is underway. 

Training to Inherit Heritage

Wang Hong, General Manager of a Tujia brocade culture and tourism development company is in charge of base management. She is a big fan of Tujia brocade.

Facing the reality that Tujia brocade needs revitalizing, Wang visited the settlements of people of Tujia ethnic group in Xiushan and Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture four years ago to collect patterns and learn traditional weaving techniques, hoping to open a workshop to inherit weaving skills as well as lift the women out of poverty.

A Tujia woman weaves brocade at a training class in Dazhai Village, Qingxichang Town, Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. [China Women's News/Xu Zhenxue]

Chen Bingbing, a Tujia woman and President of the Xiushan Women's Federation, was thrilled when she learned of Wang's plan. 

She recommended Dazhai, the most well-preserved Tujia village among Xiushan's traditional villages, and mobilized local women to participate in the plan.

The county's poverty alleviation office allocated poverty alleviation funds of 200,000 yuan (US $28,172) to the county's women's federation, which prepared to offer Tujia brocade training classes for left-behind women, whose husbands have migrated to other places for work, this year. 

Poverty Alleviation Through Employment

Adopting the "company + base + women" model, Wang's company signed labor contracts with 25 women who have received the brocade training, 17 of whom came from impoverished families.

Tujia women learn to weave Tujia brocade at a training class in Dazhai Village, Qingxichang Town, Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. [China Women's News/Xu Zhenxue]

Yang Jimei, 52, is from an impoverished family. After getting a job in the base, Yang is able to take care of her family, and at the same time earn and save money. 

For every meter of pure hand-woven brocade the women earn 420 yuan (US $59.16). Most women who work in the base for a long time have an income of 1,600 yuan (US $225.4) to 2,000 yuan (US $281.7) per month. Skilled women who are familiar with patterns can earn more than 3,500 yuan (US $493).

Wang said, "We also provide a living allowance of 200 yuan (US $28) to 300 yuan (US $42) per month according to the cost of time the women come to work in the base."

Increasing Orders Mean Larger Workforce

"We insist on using Tujia patterns, and these threads are dyed by traditional plants," said Wang.

Apparel, scarves and ornaments made of these Tujia brocades have been recognized at many exhibitions such as the 8th Chongqing International Cultural Industry Expo and the 2019 Shandong Taishan Tourism Commodities and Equipment Expo. 

Wang said that discussions are underway for thousands of orders for export to Dubai and that she is confident of a successful outcome.

In 2020, the county's women's federation will continue to promote the development of the base, carry out training and encourage more left-behind women to join in, aiming at building the base's brand and increasing income for more families.

The beautiful Tujia brocade products produced by Tujia women in Dazhai Village, Qingxichang Town, Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality [China Women's News/Xu Zhenxue]

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)