Western Hunan batik

The batik of the Miao ethic group in western Hunan province utilizes a batik dyeing technique that is based on the hollowing out of thin wooden boards as patterns, pressing it on white cloth, and filling it with wax.

Later, the filled in paste is replaced by lime and glue. The cloth is put into a dyeing tank to dye it, and then taken out. The wax or lime is then washed away.

From 1912-1949, the patterns were mainly flowers, birds, insects, butterflies, and geometric figures. They were generally used for bed sheets, quilt covers, and pillow covers.