Page 107 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

96 History and Science of Knots

2. Knotwork as Decoration
With artistic beauty and delicate structure embedded, the knotwork of China
lends itself perfectly for purposes of decoration, and the earliest example the
author is aware of is, once again, the Shuang-ch'ien Chieh. For instance, in
the jade collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, is found
a Han pendant carved in the style of the Shuang-ch'ien design, and upon the
pendant itself is inscribed a simplified P'ing Chieh (Flat Knot) decor.

Fig. 5. Shuang-lien Chieh (Connection Knot)
Apart from being a source of inspiration for designers and carvers of
personal adornments, knots of different types were actually put to use in real
life. What follows is a brief review of three major areas in which the application
of knotwork has been noted.
- Knots as costume accessories
Four types of knots have to date been identified, and they are listed here along
with the earliest artifacts upon which they are found.
Wan-tzu Chieh (Sauvastika Knot, Fig. 4): the sash on a statue
of the Buddhist deity Kuan-yin (Avalokitesvara) from the Sui Dy-
nasty (581-618).