Page 123 - Lydia Chen - The Complete Book of Chinese Knotting

07 Creative Designs (115-129) 3/23/07 4:59 PM Page 120

This design is adapted from a piece of jade
3 from the Western Han Dynasty.The creatures
resemble half parrots, half standing tigers.The
emphasis is on the parrot-like beaks and the
tiger-like protruding chests and abdomens.The
double coin knot is highly appropriate in this
case for producing the necessary curved and
protruding effect.
TYING INSTRUCTIONS
1. For each parrot’s head, tie a round brocade
knot with compound outer knots, in this case
sixteen.Wrap every fourth ear loop.
2. Make each body by knotting double coin knots
with both cord ends. Adjust the cord density to
project the body’s protusion and curvature.
3. For the stand on which the creatures are rest-
ing, use a pan chang knot with compound outer
loops and a modified pan chang knot.

A piece of jade from the Western Han Dynasty.

120 REAL AND IMAGINARY CREATURES