The Buyi tribe’s ancestors were part of the Luoyue sub-clan of the Baiyue Clan, who lived in the southern regions during ancient times. From the unearthed New Stone Age sites, it is evident that the Buyi tribe has been inhabiting the southern and northern river basins for 4,000 to 5,000 years. Historians refer to them as “Zhongjia,” a renowned rice-farming nation that primarily sustains itself through rice cultivation. Presently, the tribe has over 3.2 million people, mainly residing in Guizhou, Yunnan, and Sichuan.
布依族的先民为古代南方百越民族的骆越支系。从出土的新石器上看, 布依族生活在南北盘江流域已经有四五千年历史, 是这里的土著民族,被史称为:“仲家”, 是著名的稻耕民族,以种植水稻为生。今有320多万人,主要居住在贵州,云南和四川。
Buyi clothing draws inspiration from their rice farming culture. The garments are crafted by combining locally grown cotton with traditional techniques such as indigowood root dyeing, Buyi plaid weaving, brocade, batik, tie-dye, embroidery, and silver ornament making, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Buyi people. Among these techniques, Buyi plaid weaving is the most famous, known for its signature plaid design composed of intricate patterns within squares. The fabric produced with these patterns is called Buyi plaid fabric or square fabric.
After more than 6,000 years of historical evolution and preservation, Buyi traditional clothing has developed its distinct style with unique national characteristics. It serves as a tangible historical record of the Buyi people, cherished as a wordless history book worn by the community.布依族的服饰经六千多年的历史演进与传承, 形成了具有自己民族特色的服饰, 记载整个布依族的历史。是穿在身上的无字史书。
The Color of Buyi
The color palate of Buyi clothing blends in beautifully with the surrounding natural environment. The blue sky, white clouds, evergreen mountains and clear water are all source of inspiration when Buyi people dye their fabric.
布依花格布多为青、兰底白花, 花色文静素雅,与身处的自然空间环境, 蓝天、白云、青山、绿水融为一体。
The Symbolization of the Plaid Patterns
The intricate arrangement of patterns in arrays within tiny squares, set within a larger grid, is a distinctive feature of Buyi plaid patterns. The grid symbolizes their motherland, China, while each square represents the clans spread across the nation. The tiny squares within the larger ones represent the Buyi people within these clans. The pattern arrays within each tiny square document the history of rice farming and come in various shapes, such as water waves, thunderstorms, mountain curves, terraced field contours, rice grains, fish bones, birds, sunbeams, and more. Together, they reflect the abundant population of Buyi and their vibrant culture, their harmonious relationship with the natural surroundings, and the inseparability of rice farming from the river, mountains, thunder, and rain. Additionally, patterns surrounding the squares represent the tribe’s connection with nature, symbolizing the harmony between the people and their environment. In conclusion, the pattern structure of Buyi plaids expresses the people’s positive spirit, psychology, emotion, will, and aesthetic appreciation
The Buyi tribe’s rich cultural heritage, spanning over 6,000 years, is intricately woven into their traditional clothing. Rooted in their ancient ancestors’ rice farming culture, Buyi garments showcase a unique blend of locally grown materials and traditional craftsmanship, including indigowood root dyeing, Buyi plaid weaving, embroidery, and more. The captivating Buyi plaid patterns, characterized by complex arrangements of patterns within squares, symbolize the deep-rooted connection to their motherland, the harmony between the people and nature, and the history of rice farming. As a wordless history book worn by the people, Buyi clothing stands as a testament to their enduring spirit, aesthetic appreciation, and profound cultural legacy, providing a tangible link to their past and preserving their vibrant heritage for generations to come.