page_title: Chinese knotting
section_title: Types of knots
hierarchical_section_title: Chinese knotting / Types of knots
caption_attribution_description: English: A Good Luck Chinese Knot
context_page_description: Chinese knotting is a decorative handcraft art that began as a form of Chinese folk art in the Tang and Song dynasty in China. The technique was later popularized in the Ming and spread to Japan and Korea. This art is also called "Chinese traditional decorative knots". In other cultures, it is known as "decorative knots".
  Chinese knots are usually lanyard type arrangements where two cords enter from the top of the knot and two cords leave from the bottom. The knots are usually double-layered and symmetrical. On the right you can see examples of Pan Chang knot's 3D structures.
context_section_description: Lydia Chen lists eleven basic types of Chinese decorative knotwork in her first book. More complex knots are then constructed from repeating or combining basic knots. They are:
  One major characteristic of decorative knotwork is that all the knots are tied using one piece of thread, which is usually about one meter in length. However, finished knots look identical from both the front and back. They can come in a variety of colors such as gold, green, blue or black, though the most commonly used color is red. This is because it symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
  There are many different shapes of Chinese knots, the most common being butterflies, flowers, birds, dragons, fish, and even shoes. Culturally they were expected to ward off evil spirits similar to bagua mirrors or act as good-luck charms for Chinese marriages.
caption: An example of the "good luck" knot
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