Abstract
Juyan (Edsen-gol) relic no. 487.1 was excavated at the site of a Buddhist temple, namely K779, together with fragments of printed materials in Tangut script, thus confirming the age of the object. The present article collects existing materials to the greatest possible extent, inferring the possible functions of the artifact based on said written records: Inference A, embroidery frame which may have 4 symmetrical short wooden pegs on the left and right sides to tighten the fabric for embroidery; but based on the current state of the object, the article puts forward: Inference B, twisting tool which passes 2 to 4 strands through the holes of the 2 wooden pegs on the left, twists them into thread, and winds it around the pointed-shaft wooden peg on the right. The Edsen-gol region has a temperate continental climate, and its extremely arid environment has shaped unique livelihoods. Textile crops cultivated during the Tangut period (1038–1227) likely included hemp and cotton, as the region is not suitable for growing mulberry and raising silkworms, with limited yields. Raw silk and silk fabrics were thus largely procured through trade. Since ancient times, goats, sheep, and camels have been raised to obtain textile fibers, and the wool textile industry flourished, renowned for its quality and exported worldwide. Relic no. 487.1 allows us to then integrate the production activities of the community dependent on the temple and reconstruct the broader ecological, economic and social scene.
Keywords
textile tool; embroidery; twisting; plying; temple economy
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