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Guizhou Zhaoxing Dong villages

Ethnic minorities, China
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Drying bunches of quinoa, Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China
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Drying bunches of quinoa, Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China

Zhaoxing Dong villageGuizhou ProvinceChinaethnic Dong townquinoadrying bunches

  • Fast hands<br /> <br /> A woman rolling indigo-dyed traditional Dong cotton fabric. Note that her fast moving hands have been coloured by the indigo dye. Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China<br /> <br /> The ethnic Dong people's culture of cloth:<br /> A common sight in Dong villages of Southern China are the deep indigo blue cloths hanging to dry. The women have long been renowned for their skills in weaving and dyeing. According to historical records, Dong cloth-making dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and the finished material was often carried to the royal palace as tribute.<br /> <br /> The process of creating the cloth is arduous. The raw cotton is harvested from Dong farmland, cleaned, and woven into cloth. The Dong women mix indigo plants (Isatis tinctoria, also known as woad) with lime water to make the blue dye. The cloth is dyed in tubs then washed and dried again up to three or four times until the colour is a rich dark blue. Then other plants are added to the dye and the cloth is dyed again, resulting in a deep blue with rosy accents. After a final drying, the cloth is folded, coated with egg white and beaten with a mallet over the course of two weeks until the cloth develops a rich shine. The more it shines, the more precious the cloth is deemed to be.<br /> <br /> Several photos about the cloth making can be seen here: <a href="http://goo.gl/HkiWoR">http://goo.gl/HkiWoR</a><br /> <br /> 04/04/15 <a href="http://www.allenfotowild.com">http://www.allenfotowild.com</a>
  • Entry gate at dusk<br /> <br /> The beautiful architecture of the entry gate to Zhaoxing Dong village was lit up after dark, which showed the structures off to maximum advantage.<br /> <br /> Other photos from the Dong village can be seen here: <a href="http://goo.gl/8mlq6T">http://goo.gl/8mlq6T</a><br /> <br /> 7/04/15 <a href="http://www.allenfotowild.com">http://www.allenfotowild.com</a>
  • Stepping out... (best larger)<br /> <br /> I saw this handsome rooster stepping out of the doorway of a house on the main street. Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China<br /> <br /> The last photos from the village, including some interesting fried ants, can be seen here: <a href="http://goo.gl/QpbTVB">http://goo.gl/QpbTVB</a><br /> <br /> 9/04/15 <a href="http://www.allenfotowild.com">http://www.allenfotowild.com</a>
  • Cooking black ants (magnified inset at the top)<br /> <br /> Walking along the village main street I spied a container of something black cooking over a brazier. Upon investigating, to my surprise it was filled with ants. Upon making some enquiries, I found out the following.<br /> <br /> Good or making a wine tonic for arthritis, keeping hair black, smooth skin, healthy kidneys and virility. Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China
  • Working hard...<br /> <br /> Dong woman pounding dyed cotton cloth to make it shiny. Her body is still and in focus, but her arm and hand are moving rapidiy.<br /> <br /> Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China
  • Dong Ganian (wooden pillar( houses on the river with a wier, Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China
  • Drying bunches of quinoa, Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China
  • Dong village scene with Ganian (wooden pillar) houses, Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China
  • Woman preparing fried bread<br /> <br /> Much of the cooking in Zhaoxing Dong village appeared to be done over open fires on the street.
  • Drum tower and drying Daikon radishes, Zhaoxing Dong village; Guizhou Province; China
  • Drum tower in Zhaoxing Dong village; Guizhou Province; China
  • Zhaoxing Dong village entry gates seen from the inside at dusk, Guizhou Province, China
  • Not for the squeamish<br /> <br /> Man with a blow torch burning the hair off a pair of dead rabbits, Zhaoxing Dong village, Guizhou Province, China
  • Zhaoxing Dong village late day, Guizhou Province, China

  • Lgood

    on April 9, 2015

    Beautiful lines, wonderful comp to really draw the viewer into the scene.

  • lightray

    on April 9, 2015

    Love the lines in this. The bamboo the quinoa is hanging from and the bunches of quinoa lead the eye into the shot.

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