Ethnobotanical study on plants used to dye traditional costumes by the Baiku Yao nationality of China

Abstract

Background The Baiku Yao is a branch of the Yao nationality in China. The unique dying process of traditional clothing employed by these people has distinct national characteristics, a profound impact on the production and life of local people, and important research value. For this reason, it is important to investigate and document the dyeing plants and the traditional knowledge involved in the dyeing of Baku Yao traditional clothing. Methodology Information on dyeing plants was obtained using the free-list method and interviews with 61 Baiku Yao informants in Guangxi and Guizhou from January 2020 to August 2021. Based on the free-list method, we evaluated and screened out important plants by calculating the cognitive salience value of each plant. Results The results showed that the people of Baiku Yao have accumulated rich traditional knowledge of dyeing plants and long-term dyeing and other processes. We collected 23 species and recorded the related traditional knowledge, such as the Baiku Yao name, life form, habitat, part(s) used, application type, usage, and area used. The utilization of dyeing plants has a strong relationship with ethnic culture. The Baiku Yao uses unique anti-dyeing material (Ailanthus vilmoriniana) in the cotton dyeing process, they call it “the mother tree”. As well as, the results also showed that 15 plants (65.2%) have medicinal value and can be used to treat 18 aliments, and wild plants play a very important role in the life of the Baiku Yao. Conclusion These plants not only meet the color needs of the Baiku Yao people but also have health care effects, aligning with the trends toward green dyeing and the health contentiousness of modern people. This study provides a reference for the inheritance and development of Baiku Yao traditional clothing dyeing culture, will aid the identification of new natural, safe and healthy textile dyes, and is of positive significance in promoting regional economic development, national cultural inheritance, and biodiversity protection.

Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern China

“…Author details 1 Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning 530022, China. 2 Guangxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Standards, Nanning 530022, China. 3 Lushan Botanical Garden, Jiangxi Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lushan 332900, China.…”

“…We were interested in examining how this transformation from traditional to modern culture changed their lifestyle over time. Our past research on Baiku Yao focused on plants used for various purposes, such as herbal medicine, foraging, dyeing, and veterinary medicine [1][2][3], and showed that Baiku Yao holds wealthy traditional knowledge about plants and their applications.…”

“…In this study, we aimed to (1) determine the plant compositions and special characteristics of Baiku Yao homegarden plants and (2) explore the changes in Baiku Yao's traditional knowledge by comparing the plant compositions in homegardens in relocated and ancient villages. This ethnobotanical study not only helps to document and protect the traditional knowledge of homegarden plant but also provides a reference for protecting the biocultural diversity in other cases of community migration and community relocation in the future.…”

Disruptive Science and Sustainable Leadership for the Future of Colorants

“…Plant-based dyeing systems are based on a big amount of traditional knowledge that provides insights on optimal processing conditions (Adeel et al, 2019). Multiple ethnological studies report that the use of plants for dyeing is rooted in the context of the territory and the tribal population in which the knowledge has developed (Example: Hu et al, 2022;Teron et al, 2012). However, this knowledge and application of the process are currently under threat due to the easy accessibility of synthetic dyes and issues related to acculturation (Teron et al, 2012).…”

Plants and Other Materials Used for Dyeing in the Present Territory of Poland, Belarus and Ukraine according to Rostafiński’s Questionnaire from 1883

“…[ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Species used for traditional dyeing and the techniques employed have been recorded in some areas of the world [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”