Using A Wax Knife Dipped In Molten Wax To Draw Flowers

On November 22, the reporter followed the 2024 National Mainstream Media Henan Education High Quality Development Research Tour to visit the batik tie dyeing experience classroom of Henan Open University.

Wax printing is a traditional folk textile printing and dyeing handicraft in China. It uses a wax knife dipped in molten wax to draw flowers on cloth and then dip them in indigo. Once the wax is removed, the cloth surface will show a variety of patterns of white flowers on a blue background or blue flowers on a white background. Tie dyeing, known as "wringing and dyeing" in ancient times, is one of the folk printing and dyeing methods. The production method is simple and easy. The thread is used to tie, stitch or wrap small particles in the cloth before tying. After dyeing, the thread knot or particles are removed, which will show white patterns. Due to the different tightness of the tying, uneven dye penetration, the patterns will form a natural color halo. Tie dyed patterns are usually round, square, spiral, etc., and can also be used to tie dye animal patterns, plant patterns, etc.

Batik and tie dyeing, together with hollow out printing and clip dyeing, are called the four major printing techniques in ancient China.
      The picture shows Meng Licong, a teacher of batik tie dyeing experience class, showing the process of batik tie dyeing production.