Perhaps you are exploring the world of rugs in the search for a rug that will suit the decor of your home, and have stumbled across Chinese rugs. You’ll no doubt have noticed that they are very different from the rugs of the Middle East, that other area famed for their hand woven rugs and carpets. Just what is it that makes Chinese rugs so unique? There are many factors that go into setting these rugs apart from the rest.
The first, and most noticeable difference to most will be the use of color and design in a Chinese rug. With the communist takeover of Chinese rug making around the 1950s, the most common Chinese rugs we see today were introduced to China and then the world. These rugs feature soft, pastel colors with the traditional design motifs seen in China through the centuries, motifs such as animals, flowers, and geometric shapes. These motifs all have meanings, always postive. For instance, bats are often used in Chinese rugs to symbolize prosperity, as the Chinese word for ‘bat’ sounds just like the word for ‘prosper’. The peony flower is much esteemed in Chinese culture as a representation of nobility, and also for fertility, and is also featured prominently on many Chinese rugs, either as a main design or a background element. Westerners might be surprised to see swastikas on a some rugs of Chinese origins, but these have nothing to do with Nazism or Hitler. Rather, they are Buddhist symbols for auspiciousness and good fortune. The Nazis co-opted it and reversed the rotation. In any case, just know that the swastikas on a Chinese carpet have a positive meaning and don’t be discouraged from purchasing one if it has swastikas on it.
Another characteristic unique to Chinese area rugs is the way designs are “carved”. They are made to stand apart from other designs around the borders, creating an effect that is interesting both visually and texturally.