The Craft of Cloth Mosaic

Cloth patchwork painting (布贴画 / Bù Tiē Huà) dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). Originally a folk art practiced by women in rural China, it transforms fabric scraps into richly textured, layered paintings. Unlike embroidery which works thread onto fabric, cloth mosaic builds images through the interplay of different textiles — each with its own weight, sheen, and hand-feel. In 2008, the craft was officially recognized as part of China's intangible cultural heritage.